We cannot stress enough the importance of a good night’s sleep in maintaining good health. To run like a well-oiled machine and improve our mental and physical health, we must take every measure to improve our sleep cycle so we wake up well-rested and refreshed every day.
There are a lot of reasons why good sleeping habits must be prioritized. If you don’t get enough sleep, here’s why it should be on top of your new year’s resolution list and how to do it:
If you’re struggling with maintaining a healthy weight, then look into your sleeping habits. Having a sleep schedule and sleeping restfully for 6 to 8 hours helps with the weight loss journey.
Lack of sleep releases the stress hormones cortisol; amongst its many disadvantages, one that stands out is the increase in fat storage. Lack of sleep also increases the production of appetite hormones and leads us to eat more than we usually would. This means all your carefully planned diet and workouts might not be that effective if you lack a good night’s sleep.
To be productive and move ahead in life, you don’t just need a good physical form but also a healthy brain. When we sleep, our brain goes into the cleaning mode; the glymphatic system starts eliminating toxins, improving the overall brain health.
Lack of sleep, however, allows these toxins to fester in our brain, which can even increase the chances of early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
When we lack sleep, we aren’t just risking our health but also the safety and well-being of others. Functioning in the outside world with a lack of sleep can prove hazardous when driving or operating machinery. Thousands of accidents happen every day on the roads due to drowsy drivers.
A good night’s sleep also keeps us on our feet and allows us to make quick and good decisions on the spot. Sleep deprivation slows down our thought process, making us delay our actions and can lead to poor decisions. This is one of the reasons why athletes are encouraged to get a good night’s sleep, thus maximizing their performance on the field.
Poor sleep quality is detrimental to our mental health. It is strongly linked to depression and various other mental disorders.
In fact, research says that 90% of people who suffer from sleep disorders also suffer from depression.
Now that you know the importance of sleep and why you should improve it, here are some ways to guarantee better sleep:
While these suggestions help improve sleep, they are no replacement for professional advice. See a healthcare professional if your sleep struggles are consistent, and nothing seems to work to alleviate them.
Photo by Victoria Heath on Unsplash
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