We all know how critical sleep is to our health.
Did you know that sleep can not only keep extra body weight on, but can also prevent your body from recovering from colds, illnesses, injuries and even intense workouts?
Sounds crazy, right?
Did you know that:
- Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later.
- Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
- Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.
- Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.
- Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.
- Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.
There is some good news!
Everyone’s individual sleep needs vary. In general, most healthy adults are built for 16 hours of wakefulness and need an average of eight hours of sleep a night.
However, some people can function without sleepiness or drowsiness after as little as six hours of sleep. Others can’t perform at their peak unless they’ve slept ten hours.
And, contrary to common myth, the need for sleep doesn’t decline with age but the ability to sleep for six to eight hours at one time may be reduced
So what’s standing in your way of getting sleep?
How can you get more sleep?
Your Challenge, if you choose to Accept it!
Your challenge is simple.
Sleep more!
Okay, that’s too simple.
Try these suggestions:
- Work on creating rituals around sleep, soothing and relaxing to help you transition from day to night
- Power down all electronic stuff- especially those found in your bedroom- at least an hour before you plan on getting to bed
- Avoid watching any stimulating tv or listening to any potentially upsetting news before bedtime
- Invest in pajamas, sheets, blankets, etc that you look forward to getting into
- Don’t let yourself toss & turn. Get out of bed, do something and then attempt to get to sleep
- If you find that you cannot stop the chatter in your head, take a few minutes to write down what your brain is working on. Then try sleep again!
If you have more questions or would like some help, leave me a comment below and I’ll be sure to get back to you!
If you owe it to yourself, then don’t hesitate, just do it.
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