The Importance of Sleep on Physical Health

Modern life makes it tough to get a good night’s sleep. In fact, one UK study showed that only 50% of people felt that they regularly slept enough. There are plenty of good reasons for this. Early starts combined with the temptation to stay up late binging TV shows, blue light from computer and phone screens, and the general stresses of life. 

Many of us generally think it’s fine to skip a few hours of shut-eye. However, studies show that missing out on sleep doesn’t just affect our mental capacity, and it can take an alarming physical toll. Experts state that, ideally, good sleep should be a top priority, and we should arrange our sleeping environment so that it facilitates this. For example, if we live in a hot climate and are bothered by pests at night, we should eliminate the problem rather than let our sleep suffer. Check out the best ultrasonic pest repeller for this on homemakerguide.com. Now, let’s dive into some of the reasons why sleep is so important! 

7 Reasons to Improve Your Sleep Habits 

1. Improves Concentration 

We all know that drowsy feeling when we start to drop off in a meeting or after lunch. Although many of us consider this normal, it is a side-effect of poor sleeping habits. Getting the correct amount of sleep can improve concentration and productivity and help you feel more energized and motivated throughout the day. 

Poor concentration due to tiredness is not only a mental problem; it can have serious consequences. Did you know that drowsiness is one of the leading causes of road accidents? Up to 40% of drivers have admitted that they have fallen asleep at the wheel at least once.

Photo of Woman Writing on Tablet Computer While Using Laptop

2. Can Aid Weight Loss

Sleep and weight loss are intimately connected, and a long run of bad nights could find you tipping the scale. This is because our sleep cycle does a lot more than just keep us feeling rested. Sleep impacts our hormone profiles and can cause an uptick in our hunger hormones that regulate appetite. This can cause us to consume more calories and to store more fat, as our hormones also control how and when energy is burned. 

Blue Tape Measuring on Clear Glass Square Weighing Scale

3. Reduces Risk of Mental Health Problems 

Making an effort to sleep better can greatly benefit our overall mental healthInsomnia is frequently linked to common mental health problems, like depression and anxiety, and can significantly worsen symptoms of both. However, even a slight reduction in sleep time can affect our overall risk of developing depression. 

This is because sleep is linked to serotonin production in the brain. Low serotonin levels are one of the common unifying elements among depression sufferers as serotonin is known as the ‘feel-good’ chemical and is linked to motivation. Getting just a few more hours of shut-eye per night could drastically improve your mood and could protect you from developing chronic stress and other debilitating conditions.

grayscale photo of sleeping woman lying on bed

4. Improves Heart Health 

People who get enough rest don’t just feel better – they live longer too! One of the most commonly cited sleep facts is that those who sleep poorly run an increased risk of developing heart disease or strokes. To reduce this risk, researchers recommend at least 7-8 hours per night to keep your heart health strong.

Selective Focus Photography Of Woman In Pink Shirt

5. Helps Your Body to Heal

Sleep is vital for healing and repairing the body, as well as helping the immune system fight off viruses. During rest, your body utilizes energy reserves to help it restore and repair any damage, such as injuries or illnesses. When we don’t get enough sleep, these reserves are used up keeping us awake, and we may struggle to heal from even minor ailments. 

Woman Sitting on Floor

6. Reduces Inflammation

Inflammation is linked to a ton of potentially fatal diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and autoimmune diseases like colitis and Crohns. Chronic inflammation can also be brought on by stress or a bad diet. Getting plenty of sleep can help reduce the effects of inflammation and allow your body to handle inflammation caused by lifestyle more effectively. Suppose you’re struggling to drop off at night due to common complaints, like stress, trying a warm bath and a soothing mug of herbal sleep tea.

Photography of Blue Ceramic Coffee Cup

7. Keeps Your Brain Alert

Sleep is not only important for physical and hormonal health. It is also crucial to maintain proper brain function. Like our cardiovascular system, the brain has time to heal and repair itself during rest. It can carry out vital tasks like processing information gathered that day and building and repairing neural networks. 

Proper rest can boost brain activity over time, and routinely getting good sleep can improve memory function. Giving your brain time to rest allows your neural system’s downtime in which they can deal with and categorize experience. It’s why we often feel better about an issue or may easily find the answer to a problem after a good night’s rest. 

Selective Focus Photo of Woman Reading Book

Conclusion 

Sleeping well is one of the best things you can do for your body to improve your health in general. Specialists recommend techniques like practicing meditation before bed, taking daily exercise, and making use of apps and blue light guards on screens to get better sleep. So, forget your 2am Netflix session – your body will thank you in the long run. Sleep tight!

Final Call: 

Do you struggle to drop off or to sleep through the night? What factors are most likely to keep you awake? Do you find any sleep aids or techniques that work for you? How does lack of rest affect your daily life? Let us know in the comments!

About the Guest Author:

Archie was a builder for more than 40 years. Mainly after his retirement the enthusiastic electrical works in garden and writes for a blog Homemakerguide.com to keep himself occupied. His many years of experience can get you the right tool reviews whether it is a drill, welding machine or so. An impressive fact to note about him is that almost everything in his house is a representation of his skills made by his hands. 


Related Articles

Leave a Comment