Sleep… The Many Benefits
I’ve frequently struggled with sleep so I fully appreciate the impact of a sleepless night. Getting enough quality sleep is crucial for optimal health and wellbeing... in fact it’s as vital as regular activity and a balanced diet.
Benefits include:
💤Better productivity - Research has linked getting enough sleep to better concentration, productivity and cognition
💤Better weight management - Many studies link obesity and poor sleep patterns, yet other factors such as alcohol intake, physical activity levels, long working hours and chronic health conditions may be at play. A lack of sleep likely affects a person’s desire to adopt a healthful lifestyle, but it may/may not be a direct contributor to weight gain
💤Better calorie regulation - It’s thought that sleep patterns affect the hormones responsible for appetite. Plus, tiredness naturally leads to a tendency to consume extra calories in a bid to generate extra energy
💤Boosted athletic performance - Adequate sleep for adults is between 7-9 hours whilst athletes may benefit from as many as 10. A key reason for this is that the body heals during sleep. Other benefits include better performance intensity, speed and better coordination, as well as mental function
💤Lower risk of heart disease - Adequate rest allows blood pressure to self-regulate and in turn reduce the chances of sleep-related conditions (e.g. apnea) thus promoting better overall ❤️ health
💤Social & emotional intelligence - It’s been proven that those who do not get adequate sleep are more likely to struggle with recognising other‘s emotions and expressions
💤Preventing depression - Even minimal sleep deprivation over time can affect happiness. Reduced enthusiasm, irritability, or even some symptoms of clinical depression, like feeling empty, are common. Such alterations in mood may impact not only an individual’s mental health, but also relationships and family dynamics
💤Stronger immune system - Sleep helps the body repair and recover. It may also aid in fighting infection
My top recommendations to improve sleep quality:
Switch off screens/phones at least 1hr before bed and read a book
Take a long bath with some lavender essential oil
Go to bed around the same time each night
Spend time outside and be more active during the day
Manage stress e.g. through exercise, therapy etc.
