Sleep is extremely important to your health. Without a good nights rest your body can be left feeling tired, leaving you to lead a much less productive day. Unfortunately, western society and culture often leave people short on sleep due to the highly demanding work and social schedules they face on a daily basis.
Here are 6 reasons why sleep is something you should start prioritizing:
Mental Health
The development of a mental disorder, such as depression and anxiety, has been proven in countless studies to link to poor sleep habits. In fact, sleep disruption directly affects the hormones and neurotransmitters within your brain, which negatively impacts the part of the brain that is in charge of thinking and emotions.
Can Improve Productivity
Without proper sleep, people can struggle with concentration, performance, communication, and memory. Getting an adequate amount of sleep immediately improves your brain function and can allow you to finish your tasks quicker and more thoroughly.
Maintains Healthy Weight
On average, it has been found that people that receive the proper amount of sleep on a nightly basis weigh less than those who don’t. There are many factors that cause this to happen, but two of the biggest are believed to be the effect sleep deprivation has on your hormones and the effect it has on your motivation to exercise daily.
Controls Your Hunger
Because your body has been deprived of the energy it would typically have due to lack of sleep, your hunger increases because your body is looking for other ways to boost your energy. This causes people that are sleep-deprived to end up eating more calories than they need in a day. Getting an adequate amount of sleep not only makes you feel more energetic, but helps you eat fewer calories on a daily basis.
Boosts Immune System
Getting a proper amount of sleep allows your body to get the rest it needs to stay healthy. Even the smallest reduction in a sleep cycle can cause you to fall ill to the common cold more often than someone else who sleeps at least 8 hours a day.
Reduces Stress
Stress is something that is so common for people living in the western world due to overwhelming schedules and highly demanding jobs. When you don’t get enough sleep on top of your demanding schedule, your body actually remains in a permanent state of stress, leading to high blood pressure and the production of stress hormones. This can be avoided by simply making 8 hours of sleep a priority in your daily routine.
