Sleeping for a 'few hours' is nothing to be proud of

Sleeping fewer hours leads to "sleep debt". [iStockphoto]

Compared to other bodily processes like digestion, breathing, or even thinking, sleep seems almost trivial. After all, how much time do we spend asleep in a day? A fifth of it? Maybe a third? Or only a tenth? In comparison to these other activities, it's easy to assume that sleeping is not that important.

But as it turns out, sleep is one of the most essential aspects of our lives. Getting the right amount and type of sleep has been shown to have positive effects on our physical and mental health. There are various ways to improve your sleeping habits. Exercise is one of them.