View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-benefits-of-a-good-night-s-sleep-shai-marcu It's 4am, and the big test is in 8 hours. You've been studying for days, but you still don't...
========== It's 4 a.m.,
and the big test is in eight hours, followed by a piano recital. You've been studying and playing for days,
but you still don't feel ready for either. So, what can you do? Well, you can drink another cup of coffee and spend the next few hours
cramming and practicing, but believe it or not, you might be better off closing the books,
putting away the music, and going to sleep. Sleep occupies nearly
a third of our lives, but many of us give surprisingly
little attention and care to it. This neglect is often the result
of a major misunderstanding. Sleep isn't lost time, or just a way to rest
when all our important work is done. Instead, it's a critical function, during which your body balances
and regulates its vital system...