Last Updated on March 5, 2023 by Georgia Anne
Bedtime, at least for some people, can be the hardest part of their day. The tossing and turning, the counting of the sheep, and then if that doesn’t work, the reciting of the alphabet backward can make it seem like a never-ending attempt to get some rest.
UK Sleep Tablets offers more information showing the impact of inadequate sleep. Consider popping over to the site and exploring the sleeping aids if you’re having trouble getting the zzzs you need.
But is regular shut-eye that important? Well… Yes. That said, it’s okay if you don’t feel like sleeping right away sometimes – especially on a Friday night when you’re dead set on painting the town red. All the same, here’re reasons why you should get regular sleep:
1. Improving Productivity
Have you ever pulled an all-nighter and later had to drag yourself through a meeting with heavy eyelids? Or maybe you were preparing for an exam, but come to the real test, you couldn’t focus. In fact, everything you had crammed the night before seemed like a distant memory. Well, that was your brain telling you it needed proper rest.
Unsurprisingly, lack of sleep can diminish your productivity and overall performance. Yup, you might work less efficiently if you don’t get enough sleep. When you sleep, your brain stores and processes information while recharging, helping you stay focused and alert during the day.
A study to assess the impact of sleep deprivation on doctors’ productivity established that physicians who experience very high rates of sleeplessness were more prone to making medical errors. In short, if you want to bring your A-game to the workplace or school, you need to hit the sack.
2. Maintaining a Healthy Weight
No one likes to be overweight. But it’s a real struggle for many people. Those extra pounds seem to stick around like a bad scent, even with a balanced diet and regular exercise. Why?
It turns out that sleeping plays a huge role in weight control. Scientists have discovered that getting adequate sleep helps regulate hunger and satiety hormones. These hormones help you decide when you need an extra helping of food and when to say no.
Getting enough sleep can also reduce stress levels, preventing you from reaching out for unhealthy foods to soothe your mood. Hence, if you want to shed a few kilos or maintain weight, remember to squeeze in time for rest.
3. Enhancing Your Mood
If you ever wake up feeling cranky and drained all day, chances are you didn’t get enough sleep the previous night. Lack of proper rest can leave you wanting to scream or throw things around.
In fact, studies suggest there’s a close connection between poor sleeping patterns and mental disorders such as depression and insomnia. This shows that if your mental health seems to be deteriorating, lack of adequate sleep could be the culprit.
Whether you’re feeling anxious or just a little down, quality sleep can help lift your spirits. And if that doesn’t do the trick, you may consider other options, such as mediation. That way, you’ll have more energy and enthusiasm for the day.
4. Strengthening Your Heart
Did you know how long you sleep may lower or raise your risk of developing certain cardiovascular diseases? Yep, you read that right.
Generally, we need roughly seven hours of sleep a day. Now, if you get too little sleep, you could jeopardise your heart’s health. An analysis of 19 studies established that people who slept less than 7 hours a day had a 13% higher risk of death occasioned by heart-related complications. And that’s not all; the analysis also found that high blood pressure (HBP) was also linked to inadequate sleep. More specifically, getting less than 5 hours of sleep a night raised the risk of HBP by 61%.
What about excessive sleep? Well, that, too, has been linked to cardiac problems. Studies show that adults who sleep more than 9 hours a day have an increased risk of developing HBP and coronary diseases. This implies that we need balance to protect our hearts.
5. Supporting Your Immune System
Our body’s immune system is like a shield that protects us from illnesses and infections. Unfortunately, this shield can weaken due to various factors, such as lack of sleep.
For instance, a study on how sleep duration affects immunity showed that people who got fewer than 5 hours of sleep were nearly five times as likely to contract a cold. Likewise, research indicates that regular sleep can impact your body’s response to a vaccine, making it more effective. And while we need more studies to understand this better, we can assume that sleep and a stronger immune system go hand in hand.
Your overall health and well-being depend on how well you rest – put simply. If you’re not sleeping properly, you might be experiencing a few of the issues discussed above. So, proactively make changes to your sleep routine, and you’ll soon reap the benefits.
