Lack of sleep at night can make you cranky the next day. But over time, skipping on enough sleep can mess with more than just your morning mood. There has been a lot of research and study to establish that better sleep can help improve all sorts of issues, from keeping your blood sugar in check to improving the overall effectiveness your workouts.
Here are some benefits to highlight the importance of sleep:
Stronger Immune System
For the body to ward off illnesses, our immune system works pretty hard, and poor sleep changes the way the immune cells work. A good night’s rest can help the body immune cells get the rest they need to fight off whatever comes their way — like colds or the flu, and accordingly to studies, better sleep can also make vaccines more effective!
Weight Control
Well-rested you = Less hungry you! Sleep deprivation messes with the hormones in our brain that control appetite. And when we’re tired, we’re lazy and couch-potatoes! Basically, it’s a recipe for putting on pounds. The time we spend in bed is as important as the time we spend at the table and at the gym to help us really manage our weight
Mood Booster
Another thing that our brain does while we sleep is that it processes our emotions. Our mind needs down time in order to recognise and react to situations in the right way. When we cut that time short, we tend to have more negative emotional reactions than positive ones. Better sleep will ensure that we are rejuvenated, better prepared to handle anything that comes our way, and overall more pleasant to be around.
Healthy Heart
While we are asleep, our blood pressure goes down, giving our heart and blood vessels a bit of a rest. The less sleep we get, the longer our blood pressure stays up during a 24-hour cycle. So remember, some short-term down time can have long-term payoffs.
More Productivity
When we’re running low on sleep, we have trouble holding onto and recalling details. This happens because sleep plays a big part in both, learning and memory. Without enough sleep, it’s tough to focus and take in new information. Our brain also doesn’t have enough time to properly store memories for us to be able to pull them up later. Sleep lets our brain catch up with our body so we’re more ready for what’s next.
Better Athletic Achievement
Lack of sleep robs you of energy and time for muscle repair, but a sleepless night also saps your motivation, which is finally what gets any champion to the finish line. One will face a harder mental and physical challenge — and see slower reaction times. Where as better sleep sets you up for your best performance!
Now do you understand why experts recommend that we get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night? Because the benefits of sleep are way more than just getting rid of dark circles or putting a brake on the constant yawning. If these benefits have you ready to get into your PJs and hit the sack, we don’t know what will!