Do you know the difference an extra hour or two of sleep can make to your health? As a student myself, I’m well aware of how easy it is to undermine the importance of sleep. However, studies show that getting enough sleep can drastically improve both your physical and mental health.
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If you find yourself regularly missing out on sleep, here are 5 reasons that will motivate you to get your sleeping schedule sorted:
Improved Focus
We all know the feeling of drowsiness after a poor night’s sleep. Sleep deprivation can harm all aspects of your mental capabilities ranging from your attention span to your memory. Studies like this explain the broad consensus among researchers that insufficient sleep contributes to a general slowing and increased likelihood of making mistakes when it comes to cognition.
By getting the right amount of sleep at night, you’ll be able to effectively focus on what you need to do during the day. You will be substantially better at decision-making, problem-solving and general performance. And you might even remember to take your keys with you when you leave your house!
Better Weight Control
Surprisingly, a lack of sleep is one of the major factors that contribute to obesity. In this widespread study, adults had up a 90% increased chance of becoming obese if they were getting inadequate amounts of sleep.
When you are well rested, you’ll be in a much better position to make positive choices about your behavior and diet. It will be easier to motivate yourself to cook your own food and go to the gym when you’ve had a good night’s sleep. Conversely, when you’re exhausted it’s very easy to fall prey to getting a takeaway on the way home and having a lazy evening.
Reduce Chances Of Serious Health Problems
There are several serious health problems that become far more likely to occur when someone is suffering from sleep deprivation. This includes heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Getting your 7-8 hours of sleep every night won’t make you immune to these diseases but it will mean that your body will be far healthier and less likely to suffer from them. Even just a few consecutive days of poor sleep can have significant effects on your blood glucose levels.
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Protect Your Mental Health
Some studies estimate that up to 90% of individuals who suffer from depression also complain about insufficient sleep. Mental health issues are strongly linked to poor sleep quality, in particular with people who have sleep disorders like insomnia.
When you begin to correct your body’s natural circadian rhythm and have a regular sleeping pattern, you will be much better equipped to handle issues like depression and anxiety. This is often an integral part of therapy for individuals with depression. In some cases, it could be the only required thing to alleviate the symptoms of mental issues.
Better Social Awareness And Mood
When we’re feeling drowsy and tired, our ability to correctly recognize human expressions and cues significantly drops. This study explains how sleep deprivation greatly impairs the accurate judgement of facial emotions. Our capacity to interact socially and regulate our emotions reduce when we don’t get enough sleep.
This can have consequences on not only the people we encounter daily but also those who are close to us. Getting a good night’s sleep not only affects our own mood and how we deal with situations in our lives but can also harm the relationships we have with loved ones.
The Bottom Line for Quality Sleep Benefits
Sleeping the right amount is one of the easiest ways you can bolster your health. Along with your diet and exercise, it’s an essential part of taking care of your body and mind.
So turn your computer, tablet or smartphone off early, get to bed on time and you will notice how much better you feel and perform!