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Sleep is a wonderful thing. Crawling into bed after a busy day at work or a lazy Sunday evening is just what the doctor ordered – seriously. There are many health and lifestyle benefits that come with a decent night’s sleep that you may not be aware of. So to inspire a healthier sleep schedule for you and the family, here are 5 benefits that you can use as perfectly reasonable excuses to stay in bed and catch up on a few well deserved Z’s.
Increased memory retention
A good night’s sleep helps put us in the right frame of mind to get through the day. Being more alert means that we have a better ability to think clearly and remember things more easily. Sleep activates a change within our brains allowing us to solidify memories and strengthen the connections between brain cells. This allows for a better transfer of information from one region of the brain to another, allowing you to remember things easier. So if you feel the need to improve your memory, be sure to grab those extra couple of hours in your comfy bed!
Improved immune system and general health
Having a regular sleep cycle does wonders for the body’s general physical health. Studies took place at Harvard University where a selected group were monitored for their sleep habits in the space of 2 weeks. The study showed that those who slept less than 7 hours on average a night, were 3 times more likely to get ill than their 8 hour + counterparts.
Taking a closer look at sleep deficiency, it has been noted that this suppresses how the immune system functions meaning that without a healthy amount of shut eye, you’re going to be catching colds and the flu more often than you’d expect. So now you have the perfect reasonable argument that sleeping is just plain good for you!
Lower the risk of heart problems
There have been several studies linking the lack of sleep to cardiovascular problems. When you don’t get enough, this can lead to higher blood pressure, hyperactivity and high levels of inflammatory proteins in the blood which could lead to diseases such as diabetes and arthritis, as well as increased risk of strokes. Sleep helps to relieve inflammation in the body and keep cholesterol levels in check, so be kind to your heart and stay snuggled up in your double bed!
You will be more productive and focused
A lack of sleep has a direct correlation with lack of concentration. If you are not concentrating at the task at hand, you could possibly make mistakes you otherwise wouldn’t have made. These could be relatively minor in your line of work, but if there is a high risk factor involved you could end up injuring yourself or those around you. A healthy amount of sleep will stimulate your brain allowing you to be more focused. So be sure to adopt some sleep hygiene into your routine to get the most out of your sleep.
Improved emotional well being
When a brain is sleep deprived, studies have shown that this links to a person’s emotional well-being. Our coping mechanisms and ability to control our emotions can be compromised, leading to feelings of anger, risky behaviour and feeling sad or depressed. Combating this with a decent amount of sleep can help you feel emotionally well and have a major effect on your mood.