A good night’s sleep can have a number of wide-reaching benefits for our overall health and wellness. As well as eliminating fatigue and tiredness throughout the day, a solid sleep routine can contribute towards heightened mental and physical health over time. If you struggle to function accordingly or rely on external stimulants to carry you through your work day, you may benefit from adjusting your sleep routine, or looking into safe alternative ways to get more restful sleep such as sleep drops.
Continue reading to familiarize yourself with the importance of achieving that all-important eight hours and how you can take steps to make sleep a priority in your life today.
Improve focus and concentration
Sleep is the key to maintaining sufficient energy levels throughout the day. It can prevent your mind from wandering at work and ensure you are able to focus on the task at hand. By failing to get enough sleep or suffering from regular uninterrupted sleep, you are more likely to become fidgety and anxious throughout the day. This can have a negative impact on your ability to complete daily tasks and function at your maximum potential. A lack of sleep can affect both your brain and your body and sever important ties between them. This relationship is required to maintain your attention span, focus, concentration, strategic thinking, leadership, risk assessment, and reaction time. If you drive to and from work, operate heavy machinery, or lead a large team, you could fall short of what is expected of you and make a series of costly, time-consuming, and potentially fatal mistakes. In order to perform accordingly, you must ensure you are rewarding your body with some well-earned rest and catching up on sleep on a regular basis.
Maintain a healthy weight
When it comes to weight loss, sleep is more important than you might think. Not getting enough sleep can make it difficult to control and manage your appetite. This is due to your body requiring surplus energy to keep you awake for longer than is necessary. According to a recent study, sleep deprivation can trigger increased levels of ghrelin and decreased levels of leptin in your body. This can lead to unintentional overeating and creates greater opportunities to appease your hunger which can delay weight loss and lead to significant weight gain in the long run. It can also alter how your body signals hunger and fullness to trick you into believing you are hungry and prompt you into reaching for unhealthy fast food. The right amount of sleep can regulate hunger and control your weight. Can you catch up on sleep and repair sleep damage? Try switching up your diet today and perhaps even consider taking sleep vitamins to help promote restful sleep, and see how they can make a difference.
Improve heart health
A lack of sleep can contribute towards the onset of a number of serious health conditions relating to the heart. This can include heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even a stroke. By waking up frequently and often, you can trigger your sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for your body’s ability to orchestrate a fight or flight response to external stimuli you deem dangerous or unsafe. It is also in control of your cardiovascular system and can set off your blood pressure in order to prepare you for the process of exiting REM sleep and opening your eyes. The constant switch between being asleep and awake can confuse your brain and lead to a steady increase in blood pressure over time to compensate for the disruption. As well as this, a poor sleep schedule has also been proven to contribute to the process of insulin regulation and resistance within our bodies. Insulin is the hormone that controls our blood sugar levels by regulating the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. If you are suffering from insomnia on a regular basis, your body’s insulin levels may fluctuate and lead to the onset of diabetes if left untreated over a prolonged period of time. A good night’s sleep can be the difference between good cardiovascular health and a series of cardiovascular diseases.
Maximize physical activity levels
In order to excel at sports, our bodies must be well-rested and taken care of. A good sleep routine has been proven to enhance athletic performance over time by improving speed, accuracy, and reaction times. It has also been associated with improved mental health which can have a knock-on effect on your performance on the pitch. A lack of sleep can lead to a less than stellar performance as a result of limited agility and functionality. To lead your team to victory, you must ensure you are getting enough sleep. Aside from athletic performance, a poor sleep routine can affect you in your everyday life. If your mind and body has been subjected to irregular or interrupted sleep, you may end up struggling with basic mobility. Simple daily tasks such as walking your dog, running to catch the train to work, or carrying heavy shopping bags to your car can lead to breathlessness and fatigue if you are not getting enough sleep. World-class athletes are well versed in the importance of maintaining a good sleep routine. By perfecting their sleep schedule and enhancing their performance, they are winning both on and off the pitch.
Improve mental health
As well as having a positive impact on our physical health, a good night’s sleep can also drastically improve our mental health. In the past decade, researchers have uncovered links between poor sleep quality and depression. Over 90% of people that suffer from depression have also complained of poor sleep quality. This can lead to the gradual downfall of your mental health over time and even increase the likelihood of suicide if left untreated for a prolonged period of time.
There are a number of sleep disorders commonly associated with a drop in mental health. These include insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. Insomnia is categorized by an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, often caused by stress or anxiety. If you’re suffering from this, CBD has been found to help reduce anxiety, which you can research online to find out more. Sleep apnea, or obstructive sleep apnea, is the name given to a condition that sees your breathing periodically stop and start throughout the start with no apparent trigger. Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that causes sufferers to become drowsy and fall asleep at regular intervals throughout the day. By becoming aware of the warning signs and taking the appropriate steps to seek treatment as early as possible, you can increase your chances of making a full recovery and regaining control of your mental and physical health.
Sleep is an integral component of our overall health and wellbeing. In order to function accordingly within our personal and professional lives and ensure we are reaching our maximum potential, we must treat our bodies to a regular, consistent sleep routine. There are several different benefits associated with implementing these changes. From an enhanced sense of focus and concentration on a daily basis to preventing the onset of a number of serious health conditions, sleep should be viewed as a priority, not a luxury. By familiarizing yourself with the various benefits of getting a good night’s sleep, you can take the appropriate steps to prioritize sleep and regain control of your life. A good sleep routine can improve your mental as well as physical health if maintained over time.
