The Lean In Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is extremely grateful for the opportunity to start a conversation about sleep on campus. Arianna Huffington made it her mission to speak up on behalf of women and society to prove that sleep is not only vital, but also necessary for productivity, happiness, and wellness. Arianna's book came to me at a critical time in my academic and professional career, when sleep is often sacrificed for other demands and responsibilities. This movement has shown me the restorative power of sleep.
"Arianna's book came to me at a critical time in my academic and professional career, when sleep is often sacrificed for other demands and responsibilities."
Although we spend a significant portion of our time sleeping, we rarely stop and think about its importance. After reading excerpts from Arianna Huffington's book and watching her TED Talk, I began to ask myself why we consider sleep to be so important and vital for infants and less important for adults. This is why we chose to focus on sleep and reflect on sleep's impact during our April Circle Meeting. Our dialogue and conclusion was unanimous: as women, we must hold each other accountable and choose sleep "one night at a time."
"To re-frame my own relationship with sleep, I will begin to prioritize sleep for my wellbeing."
In a society that places conflicting demands on university students, it is important to understand the extensive research surrounding sleep and how to incorporate better sleeping habits into our daily routines. As the president of Lean In at my university, I wanted to write on behalf of our members and this national movement around The Sleep Revolution. To re-frame my own relationship with sleep, I will begin to prioritize sleep for my wellbeing.