What is sleep?

Our bodies naturally want to be awake during the day and to sleep at night — this natural tendency is referred to as the ‘circadian rhythm’. The circadian rhythm is hard to change and explains why adjusting to a late-night work schedule can be difficult.

Sleep is a complex activity and occurs in five stages, each progressively involving a deeper level of rest. It is during the fifth stage, the ‘Rapid Eye Movement’ or REM stage, that most dreaming occurs. Good sleep is vital to a healthy lifestyle, helping people manage stress and solve problems. Good sleep has been found to accelerate recovery from illness and injury. Lack of sleep can lead to drowsiness, irritability, lack of concentration, and memory and physical problems.