The benefits of a good night’s sleep are things you cannot assume if you care about your overall health and well-being. Even doctors no longer ignore the importance of quality sleep. For instance, it is obvious that you are at higher risk of developing some diseases if you get less than 6 to 7 hours of sleep every night.
6 reasons why you should get a good night’s sleep
Getting enough sleep every day is vital to your well-being just the same way a healthy diet and regular exercises are. In fact, if you go by the research, lack of enough sleep is associated with negative effects on your brain function, exercise performance and hormonal imbalance. Here are just 6 reasons to remind you that getting proper rest every night is not just a good idea but an essential need your body must get in order to survive.
1. Reduces stress
One of the most underrated benefits of a good night’s sleep is its power to help reduce stress. If you are not careful, today’s fast-paced lifestyles can lead to stress or even depression. You need to sleep well for your body to relax and rejuvenate. When your body fails to have quality sleep over a certain period of time, it reacts by producing an elevated level of stress hormones. Therefore, to prevent such occurrence, ensure you practice deep and regular sleep.
2. Lower blood pressure
Interestingly, getting enough sleep can help lower your blood pressure. When you get enough sleep, your body gets to enjoy a constant state of relaxation. This in return helps reduce blood pressure and equally keep it under control. Remember blood pressure can increase your chance of developing stroke and heart attack. Avoid them completely by sleeping at least 8 hours every night.
3. Improves concentration and productivity
Did you know good sleep can actually make you smarter? Ooh yes, it can make your brain more effective and productive too. Although you won’t necessarily be the know it all kind of a person, you may feel more attentive, focused and sharper throughout the day. Plus, your problem-solving skills will improve and this will make you a better person.
4. May help reduce weight
There are so many people out there who are suffering from overweight or even obesity issues just because they failed to know how important sleep is to them. You don’t have to be among this number. Sleep well so that ghrelin and leptin, the hormones which regulate appetite are not disrupted by lack of sleep. If you intend to lose weight or even maintain your current body weight, always remember that adequate sleep on a regular basis plays a bigger part.
5. Helps the body to repair itself
When you sleep, you give your body an opportunity to relax and at the same time repair the damages caused by ultraviolet rays, stress and any other harmful stuff your body could have been exposed to. The reason as to why this happens during sleep is because while you sleep, your cells produce more protein responsible for repairing the damage. The same extra protein molecules produced in your sleep strengthens your body’s ability to fight infections. So, next time you are feeling a bit run down, go to bed early and get enough sleep. You will save yourself the trouble of dealing with a full-blown cold.
6. Improves your memory
Have you realized it is always harder to remember things when really tired? It’s a way of your brain informing you that these days you are not getting enough sleep. Hence, make sure you get a good night’s sleep every day. Your body will have a chance to rest and your brain to organize and restore memories. You will even notice it is now easier to remember and process activities.
How to enjoy quality sleep
You now know that tossing and turning at night instead of sleeping can have a negative impact on your health. So, why don’t you do something about it? If you would like to enjoy the above benefits, then make sure you get a good sleep on a regular basis. Here are a few tips to help you with it.
Get a quality mattress
Your bed should be a heaven where you can lie down, relax and enjoy quality sleep. It’s the only way to wake up to a beautiful morning feeling energetic and full of life. This is a challenge to most people because the quality of the mattress they sleep on is decisive. You need to invest in a good quality mattress if you intend to get a good night’s sleep. It can be tempting to buy a cheap mattress especially when you want to save some extra money. However, the benefits of sleeping on a good mattress surpass all the temptations. Make sure you consider the materials used, different levels of firmness and other crucial features when choosing a mattress. Some of the best brands are Casper, Tuft and Needle, Purple, Nectar; and let’s not forget the Mammoth mattresses.
Exercise regularly
Another way to enjoying some quality sleep is by exercising at least 20 to 30 minutes a day. You can exercise any time of the day you find convenient but avoid a workout before bedtime because it can interfere with your sleep. To be precise, avoid exercising within two hours of bedtime.
Keep your bedroom darker
A darker room can help you sleep better than a brightly lit room. Studies have actually shown that minor things like LEDs from devices in your bedroom or the glow of your clock can interfere with the quality of your sleep. For the windows, consider some heavy and dark curtains to limit the natural light from penetrating the room. Avoid keeping devices such as TV and other electronics in your bedroom. In fact, just from its name, leave if for the bed only.
Set a schedule
Most people have a habit of waking up very early in the morning during weekdays and oversleeping during the weekends. While this may seem like the obvious thing to do, it could be interfering with your sleep cycle. To enjoy a good night’s sleep, make sure you set and stick to a regular sleep schedule. For instance, if you sleep at 10 pm and wake up at 7 am during weekdays, do the same for the weekends. This will help you develop a regular sleep schedule and prevent any chances of dealing with insomnia or other sleeping disorders.
The bottom line
If you ever thought that sleep is not that important, now you know how crucial it is to your overall well-being. Quality sleep matters a great deal and you should never compromise it with anything else. Also, invest in things that can help you achieve this. You won’t only keep the doctor away but you will live a more fulfilling life.
