Need to be the best you can be? Get more sleep!(OTHERWISE)

A GOOD NIGHT'S REST CAN GO A LONG WAY in recharging those batteries and getting you ready for another hard day's work. But for millions of Americans, sleep is a dream that often seems out of reach. A 2002 study by the National Sleep Foundation (NSE) found that 74 percent of American adults experience problems sleeping a few nights a week or more; 39 percent get less than seven hours of sleep on weeknights; and sleep deprivation affects the daily activities of 37 percent of respondents. Educators are prime candidates for sleep deprivation because of the stress that is an intrinsic part of education today--not the least being a growing mountain of paperwork that keeps us working longer hours.

But sleep deprivation isn't something that should be taken lightly. Besides making you cranky, a sleep deficit can make you susceptible to a host of health problems, according to researchers, ranging from depression to diabetes to heart disease. In the workplace, sleep deprivation costs employers an estimated $18 billion in lost productivity, according to a 1997 NSF study. (The 2002 NSF poll found that 80 percent of American adults believe that not getting enough seep can negatively impact performance at work.) Most devastating, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that approximately 100,000 crashes occur each year due to fatigue, and more than 1,500 people die in those accidents.

How Much Sleep is Enough?

Although sleep experts recommend an average of seven to nine hours of sleep per night, they also suggest that some people may need more sleep than others--some, for instance, may find that they function at their optimum on 10 hours, while some may only need six.

What Can You Do?

If you are sleepless on a regular basis you may have a sleep disorder (or you may need to make some lifestyle changes to promote sleep). Obviously, if you think you have a sleep disorder, you should see your doctor. The National Institute of Health says, "Talk to your doctor if you feel tired or very sleepy while at work or school most days of the week. You also may want to talk to your doctor if you often have trouble falling ...