“T ry to get enough sleep.” This may seem like an over-flogged phrase, but when you consider the health benefits associated with sleeping, you wouldn’t need anyone to convince you. Oftentimes, those reoccurring headaches you get, and the constant feeling of being overwhelmed can all the traced back to a lack of good sleep. This means that by upping your sleep hours, you can be sure that you’ll minimize the possibility of frequent headaches and being overwhelmed.
It’s indeed true that we work really hard to make ends meet, but sleeping adequate hours isn’t optional. It isn’t okay to allow your health to suffer while you’re trying to stack up on that dough. Think about it, if your health keeps paying the prize for your ambition, sooner than later, you’ll have all the money in the world but watch them constantly go to medical bills. As they say, prevention is better than cure so now is the right time to get your health on the right track beginning with sleep. Your future self will thank you.
What is good sleep?
There are four (4) stages of sleep that every individual needs to cycle through before a sleep session can be termed good. These stages are light sleep (stages 1 and 2), deep sleep (stage 3), and then rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (stage 4). When you successfully cycle through all these sleep stages multiple times each night, you allow sleep to perform its critical function of restoring your body and mind.
This leads to the next question, how long should you sleep? According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night and older adults over 65 years of age get between seven and eight hours. The rapid growth and development of youth mean that children need additional hours of sleep, with specific recommendations varying by age. Babies might need up to 17 hours per night, while the range for teens is eight to 10 hours.
Check out 7 benefits of getting good sleep every night…
#1. Better mood
The brain plays a huge role in your emotions, and it works its magic in processing your emotions while you sleep. Experts have found that this sleep magic is needed for your mind to process things properly to enable you to react the right way throughout the day. This explains why people who are sleep deprived tend to be cranky and irritable. If this continues for a longer time, it could have a more negative impact like mood disorders.
#2. Makes you smarter
It’s a given that a lack of sleep affects your mind with many having trouble recalling details (more on that below). But did you know that a healthy dose of sleep each night plays a big role in learning? Simply put, sleeping makes you smarter. Without enough sleep, it’s tough to focus and take in new information.
#3. Immune system booster
When your body gets the sleep it needs, your immune cells and proteins are energized enough to fight off whatever comes their way. That is to say, your immune system is more effective when you simply spend more time asleep.
#4. Helps prevent weight gain
Of course, sleep alone isn’t responsible for weight loss, but it can help keep your body from packing on the pounds. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces ghrelin, a hormone that boosts appetite. Your body also decreases the production of leptin, a hormone that tells you you’re full. Do the math, you’ll understand what that means.
#5. Improves heart health
Not getting enough sleep can lead to heart health problems like high blood pressure or heart attacks. That’s because lack of sleep can cause your body to release cortisol, a stress hormone that triggers your heart to work harder. Just like your immune system, your heart needs rest in order to function powerfully and properly. A great reason to get enough sleep if you ask me.
#6. Increases productivity
It’s true we all want to do so well at work and/or business, and consequently, we burn the midnight oil. But did you know that putting off sleep can have a counter effect on what you are trying to achieve? In fact, sleep has been linked to improved concentration and higher cognitive function, both of which can help you be successful at work/business. However, one night of skipping sleep can tire you out, making it more likely that you’ll make mistakes throughout the day.
#7. Sleep improves memory
Even though sleep gives your body the rest it needs, your mind is still hard at work. It’s actually processing and consolidating your memories from the day. If you don’t get enough sleep, who knows where those memories go? Or worse, your mind might actually create false memories. It’s been proven to do so.
Featured image: bruce mars | Unsplash
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