Why Do We Have To Sleep?

…and how did it evolve in the first place?
↓ More info and sources below ↓

Why do we sleep? We spend a third of our lives in slumber, but science has yet to determine exactly why we have do it. Here’s a look at how sleep works, why we’re not getting enough sleep, what happens if you DON’T sleep, and an idea about where sleep came from in the first place.

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It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
Follow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe
Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com

Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer
Joe Nicolosi - Director
Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen Inc.
Kate Eads - Producer
Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics/Animation
Arts & Labor - Motion Graphics
Katie Graham - Camera
John Knudsen - Gaffer

Theme music: “Ouroboros” by Kevin MacLeod

Other music via APM
Stock images from Shutterstock, stock footage from Videoblocks (unless otherwise noted)

[The_Hanged_Man_Arcana]

Anyone watching this late at night instead of sleeping?

[OGSontar]

I always keep my feet under the covers. Everyone knows that exposed feet are the favorite food of the monsters under the bed.

[danecraze]

Watching this at 11 pm is literally the meme: "I don't need sleep, I need answers"

[crewrangergaming]

"People fall asleep when it gets dark"

*My lazy ass that falls asleep even after lunch*

[Mo-mwit]

ah!, so basically sleep is clearing out the cache data.

[EugeneKhutoryansky]

Some of the greatest discoveries were made by people who were asleep, as the idea came to them in a dream.

[enzofurtado]

A wise man once said: “sleep is just death being shy”

[nathanaelaldred]

"We have no idea what happens after we close our eyes" I do actually, I lay in bed for another 1/2 hours rethinking my entire life until I drift off to sleep and *then* I don't know what happens

[macbuff]

sleep is underrated. Luckily research is now showing how important sleep is and that stupid idea that sleeping is akin to laziness is being put in the trash bin where it belongs

[xiuxiu]

That's how I sleep! I get extremely sleepy at around 8-9pm, wake up at around midnight and then fall asleep again at 3 am. I thought i had a sleeping disorder, turns out I'm "default"

[whatwouldhousedo]

I have a theory of my own. As mentioned in the video, we consolidate memories and clean our neurons during sleep. But I also think it's when we rest our tonic, or postural muscles. Our tonic muscles are always firing in alternating sequences while we are awake- it's how we stay standing or seated upright etc without any conscious effort. But those muscles need to rest and rebuild- sleep shuts them down so they can rejuvenate.

[dmj]

I have a very active mind and I think that's part of why my dreams are so dramatic and wild and I remember them very often. In some ways it's cool but it's also tiring too.

[Cooliostuff]

Man I wish school.started at like 10, I feel like a zombie when I wake up

[lisettemguevara]

I feel asleep during the entire thing 😭😂 going to rewatch now

[cheesexlz]

It makes it so much better to watch this when doing an all nighter to finish the school work I've been procrastinating on.

[martijn]

cutting down on coffee, to max 1 per day in the morning, improved my sleep sooo much. used to have days where I just lay awake in bed for hours. now I sleep in a few minutes and trough out the night.

[-TheBugLord]

I wish I could sleep, but school ruined that.

[valevallo]

Who the hell likes to sleep with their feet sticking out of the covers?? Thats how monsters can get you!

[alonnie]

It's very good for mental health and eating too. Whenever I feel anxious and realize I'm not feeding well, I'd start adjusting my sleep schedule so that I go to bed early and wake up early. It just makes you function so much better and you feel healthier. After a few days, you get used to it and start loving it.

[kaiserin_]

youtube: recommends me "Why Do We Have To Sleep"
me: I don't need sleep, i need answer