This is a collaborative post: Sleep can save your life — and you might think that sounds exaggerated, but it’s true. Sleep is as critical to our bodies as eating, drinking, and breathing, and it is crucial to maintaining your physical and mental health.
Yet, sleep is usually the first thing to go when 24 hours in a day doesn’t seem enough.
Too many people today glorify the cult of overwork — logging 18-hour days and then boasting about the #hustle on social media.
What they fail to realise is when we don’t get enough restful shut-eye, our memory and attention skills suffer, as does our ability to make decisions and solve problems. Our appetite-controlling hormones are also thrown out of whack, leading to weight gain and difficulty managing blood sugar levels.
Lack of sleep negatively affects nearly every aspect of your health and well-being. Here are four reasons why getting the recommended amount of sleep every night should be at the top of your priority list!
Sleep helps improve Productivity and Concentration
A good night’s sleep is mandatory for your brain to work correctly. Also, studies demonstrate that sleep improves memory in both adults and children.
Signs that you are not getting enough sleep are exhaustion, forgetfulness, irritation, and just not being on top of your game.
In the long run, everyone around you sees it as poor job performance, mood swings, depression, and you become that person who no one wants to be around.
According to a RAND study, people who sleep for less than six hours each night are 2.4% less effective than those who get seven to nine hours of sleep.
Overall, the UK loses hundreds of thousands of working days due to inadequate sleep, costing £40 billion each year, or about 2% of GDP.
Sleep aids Weight Management
When talking about losing weight, most people tend to focus on two things: diet and exercise. Even though they are crucial variables in the equation, the effect of a good night’s sleep on weight management is almost always ignored.
While you sleep, your organs produce hormones that allow your body to function correctly. Two of these hormones are:
- Leptin: an appetite-suppressing hormone that aids the body in fighting food cravings.
- Ghrelin: the so-called “hunger hormone” that stimulates your appetite and awakens your sensation of hunger.
Your body needs leptin to counteract the effects of ghrelin, but lack of sleep causes leptin insufficiency might consequently result in an unexpected weight increase.
Also, a study has shown that lack of sleep can decrease your motivation to work out.
When we are well-rested and comfortable, we tend to make better choices about our physical activity and nutrition—helping us achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Sleep boosts Immune Function
When you’re awake, your body’s focus is on moving around and performing complex tasks, such as talking to co-workers or even making dinner.
When it comes time to doze off, all that activity causes your immune system to stand down, allowing it to recharge and kick back until you wake up again.
Without enough shut-eye, your immune function can become compromised—which can lead to an array of illnesses.
Sleep prevents depression
Poor sleeping habits can cause mental problems as well.
Studies show that both a lack of and too much sleep raises stress hormones and inflammation levels, both linked to depression.
People who don’t sleep enough are also three times more likely to suffer from clinical depression than those who get enough shut-eye.
How much sleep do you really need? Find out here.
Wrapping Up
Sleep can save your life and the lives of others. Studies show that excessive sleepiness causes up to 20% of motorway accidents in the UK and has been linked to nearly a quarter of fatal or catastrophic accidents.
Have trouble sleeping? The first step to getting a good night’s rest is optimising your bedroom environment — everything comes after.
Click here to give your body the ZZZs it needs with a bed crafted just the way you like it.