6 Reasons You Need More Sleep

What is the one thing we all need more of? Sleep! Sleep is necessary for survival; it allows our body to recover after working all day. While we are sleeping the nervous system becomes relatively inactive, our five senses get a much needed break, the muscles relax, and consciousness is practically suspended. 

For some, sleep comes easy. Some people have the ability to flip the switch and turn off their mind and let their body rest as they successfully enter the REM cycles. Getting seven to eight hours in a 24-hour period, leaves you feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the day. 

However, for several people, sleep is a struggle. Not getting enough sleep causes stress and can lead to illness. It’s estimated that 35% of American adults suffer from lack of sleep which ultimately results in automobile accidents, hazardous workplace errors, relationship issues, and overall low productivity throughout the day. 

Here are 6 reasons you should make sleep a priority in your life and how you can improve your current sleep patterns.

1. Reduces Stress and Depression

When your body is lacking sleep, it goes into a state of stress. The body's functions are put on high alert, which causes high blood pressure and produces stress hormones, which make it difficult to fall asleep. Relaxation techniques can counteract the effects of stress and help you fall asleep faster.

2. Feel More Alert

A good night's sleep makes you feel energized and allows you to be more engaged and active. When you wake up feeling refreshed, use that energy to get out into the daylight, be active and engage with others around you. You'll sleep better the next night and increase your daily energy levels.

3. Improves Memory

It’s been discovered that sleep plays an important role in a process called memory consolidation. During sleep your body may be resting, but your brain is busy processing your day, making connections between events, sensory input, feelings and memories. Deep sleep is a very important time for your brain to catalog memories, and getting more quality sleep will help you remember and process things better when awake.

4. Lose Weight

Researchers have found that those who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely to be overweight or obese. Lack of sleep impacts the balance of hormones in the body that affect appetite. The hormones ghrelin and leptin, which regulate appetite, can be disrupted by lack of sleep. If you want to maintain or lose weight, don't forget that getting adequate sleep on a regular basis is a huge part of the equation along with healthy eating and exercise.

5. Builds Muscles

There's a reason that fitness magazines and forums focus on the importance of sleep. If you don't sleep, you can't build muscle. While you are sleeping, your body is busy healing damaged cells and tissues that occur while awake and active.

6. Better and Safer Driver

Driving sleepy is like driving drunk. Both are a common cause of serious injuries and in tests, sleep deprived drivers perform like alcohol impaired drivers. Drowsy driving is responsible for 100,000 crashes and 1,500 deaths every year, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Almost 20% of serious injuries in crashes happen when there's a sleepy driver involved.

Improve Your Sleep

Here are five quick tips everyone can use to help improve the quality of their sleep:

●      Keep your bedroom cool and dark

●      Stick to a regular and consistent sleep schedule

●      No caffeine after noon

●      Avoid large late-night meals

●      Skip the late-afternoon nap

Getting a good night’s sleep is just as important as eating right and getting enough exercise.  So go to bed tonight knowing that you are doing something right for your body and enjoy every minute on your pillow!