Dear Ms. Chen,
I am writing before I lose my nerve. For the past month I have not slept well, and in class my mind goes blank the moment you call my name. I know my last two papers were late, and I am sorry.
My parents believe the pressure comes only from me. Perhaps they are right, but I cannot switch it off alone. The school nurse suggested that I speak to you first.
Could I come to your office on Friday after four? I do not want extra time for the tests. I would just like to plan the rest of the term with someone who has seen this before.
Thank you,
Chang Wei-ting
Breathe — a free four-week evening course
Tuesdays, 19:00 to 20:30, Community Center, Room B. The first week surprises most people: they simply sleep better. Bring nothing but a notebook. Classes are limited to twenty adults; register online before 5 May. Anyone who misses two evenings cannot receive the certificate.
Sleep is the first thing a busy mind gives up and the last thing it can afford to lose. In one study, healthy adults who slept five hours a night for a week became slower at simple tasks and much quicker to anger.
The link works in both directions. Worry keeps people awake, and a short night then makes every problem look bigger the next morning. Researchers call this a loop rather than a chain.
Breaking the loop rarely requires medicine. Fixed wake-up times, darker rooms and no screens after ten helped most volunteers within two weeks. A short message of sympathy from a friend, the study noted, helped almost as much.
A company asked 500 employees to name the main cause of stress at work. Each person chose one answer.
| Main cause | Office staff | Factory staff |
|---|---|---|
| Too little time | 41% | 28% |
| Unclear instructions | 26% | 19% |
| Noise | 7% | 33% |
| Difficult colleagues | 26% | 20% |
The company plans to repeat the same survey next spring.