Sleep tends to be a much underestimated part of our well-being. You will always hear about how much you need food, water, and air to survive. However, sleep is usually left on the wayside of these keys to survival. Keep reading to find out just how important it is to get enough sleep…
Sleep deprivation has nothing but negative effects on the body. One of the biggest impacts it has is on your brain. Sleep is necessary for your brain to rest and process each day’s events. (This is why we dream!) When your brain isn’t getting enough recovery time through sleep each day, it doesn’t function as well. As more time passes, the less efficient your brain will be.
Reaction times are slower; you can’t process the things you see as quickly, your balance is compromised, thought processes become jumbled and inconsistent, and many more cognitive issues result from lack of sleep. You can also experience crankiness and mood swings by not getting enough sleep; and in extreme cases, you can even hallucinate!
There is a wonderful book called : The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It by Dr. Winter that some say he is the sleep whisperer! He breaks down, you need to really understand what’s going on with your sleep—both what your problems are and how to solve them. Pick it up at Amazon to really help you with your sleep.
Another huge blow to your health that comes from not getting enough sleep is what happens to your immune system. When you sleep, your body works on healing itself and building up all the cells that help you fight off infection and disease. Without getting enough sleep, your body doesn’t have the ability to properly defend itself from getting sick. A weakened immune system can lead to a lot of problems like higher risk of diseases, infections, and even chronic conditions like heart disease and lung illness.
Sleep deprivation can cause all sorts of problems, both for your health and your appearance. When you don’t get enough sleep, your skin doesn’t have a chance to recover from the days’ worth of environmental stressors. This can lead to fine lines, dullness, and a general loss of radiance.
And it’s not just your skin that suffers when you don’t get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can also cause dark circles under your eyes, puffy eyes, and a saggy, tired-looking complexion. Not to mention, it can make you irritable and stressed, which can show up in the form of break-outs.
Not getting enough sleep can actually cause weight gain, and even diabetes! Without a proper sleep schedule, your body can’t release enough of the hormones like insulin and leptin. These help you process sugars and feel when you’ve had enough to eat. When these hormones are out of whack, you will have a heightened appetite; and you will also be at a very high risk of developing diabetes.
So what can you do to prevent all these problems and more? Get enough sleep! The average amount of sleep every adult should be getting each night is between seven and nine hours.
Another helpful tip is to create a bedtime routine and stick to it as much as possible. This means winding down for 30 minutes before you turn in for the night. During this time, you can take a relaxing bath, read a book, or do some gentle stretching. That also means, stop looking at your phone!
Making sleep a priority is crucial if you want to look and feel your best. By getting enough rest, you’ll not only improve your appearance, but you’ll also boost your mood, improve your concentration, and reduce your stress levels. So next time you’re feeling tired, don’t reach for another cup of coffee. Instead, head to bed and enjoy a restful night’s sleep.
If you find yourself struggling to get enough sleep, schedule a sleep study with your doctor, so you can find out why. There are many things that can contribute to sleep deprivation, so make sure you pay attention to your habits and possible health issues, so you can achieve a healthy sleep schedule!
