Why Do We Usually Sleep at Night?

Sleep is as essential to our health as food and water. It plays a crucial role in our physical and mental well-being, yet many of us underestimate its importance and don’t make it a priority.

Sleep as a Restorative Process

We sleep for a third of our lives, and during this time, our body performs various restorative processes. Our brain activity slows down, our muscles relax, and our heart rate decreases. It’s during sleep that our body clears toxins that can cause neurodegenerative diseases. Memory consolidation is another critical function that takes place during sleep. Our brain replays and processes our experiences, forgetting useless information and filing away meaningful information.

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Sleep helps us function better throughout the day. It enables us to have increased alertness, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive performance. When we get a good night’s sleep, we can tackle our daily tasks with renewed energy and clarity.

Sleep-Wake Cycle

We’re programmed to follow a sleep-wake cycle, commonly known as our circadian rhythm. As humans, our natural rhythm dictates that we sleep at night and are awake during the day. Our sleep patterns are regulated by our brain’s master clock, which responds to light exposure, hormone fluctuations, and our food intake schedule.

Why Can’t We Just Sleep During the Day?

If we consider other living organisms, we might wonder why humans and some primates aren’t natural diurnal beings, like dogs, wolves, or ants. However, human brains are wired differently. Evolution has adapted humans to be alert and productive during the daytime, while nighttimes allow our bodies to repair, rebuild, and revitalize. Nocturnal creatures like rodents or predators don’t experience the same physical needs as humans, and their environments have developed accordingly.

The Risks of Disrupted Sleep Patterns

When we neglect our sleep schedule, poor health risks emerge. Continuous exposure to the digital world through screens before bedtime and regular night-time stimuli can hinder sleep quality, leading to various negative outcomes, including:

• Poorer cognitive function, reduced memory capacity, and a lowered immune response
• Worse mental health, increased levels of depression and anxiety, and decreased self-reported sleep quality
• Potential onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as high blood pressure and diabetes
• Mental decline, decreased brain gray matter, and poor sleep outcomes that can extend beyond retirement years

Afro-Metamodernity and Digital Distraction

Our daily use of electronic devices at night may appear harmless, but it’s worth recognizing the significant negative impacts on our sleep habits and overall health. The South African study revealed that sleep timing is compromised among urban adolescent populations in Nigeria. Participants in urban areas slept significantly less and their sleep quality was more impaired, predominantly due to screen-based activities. This has sparked a conversation about Afro-Metamodernity’s consequences on sleep in African contexts, making it necessary to explore how social and technological pressures can influence individual health outcomes.