If you’ve ever thought sleep isn’t important, well think again, its not only important its essential!
Sleep is vital for both our physical and mental health but why exactly should we be aiming to get a solid 7-9 hours of good quality sleep a night? We’ve put together 5 reasons why a better night sleep could benefit you.
Benefits of Good Quality Sleep
Sleep can improve memory
A good night sleep can help our brains function optimally, when we get good quality sleep our brain is busy storing and organising our memories. Preserving the key ones and getting rid of the extra information, this is called memory consolidation. Getting you ready to process new information the next day.
Helps maintain a healthy weight
A full night sleep means we see a balanced release of hormones that help control our appetite, giving us a clear indication of when we are feeling full. Waking up feeling well rested may also make us less likely to reach for sugary processed food to give is a quick release of energy. Both of which can help us maintain a healthy weight.
Lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease
Sleeping through the night promotes a state of relaxation which can help reduce our blood pressure. Having high blood pressure can increase our risk of CHD and stroke.
Helps support emotional wellbeing
Sufficient sleep has been shown to have a positive impact on our mood and our ability to say calm and makes more rational decisions. So, when we are faced with a challenging situation, we are more likely to look at it in a positive light rather than negative which can spiral downwards.
Helps reduce stress
A lack of sleep can result in elevated levels of stress hormones, making us more susceptible to stressors. Therefore, something that would not normally phase you may cause you additional worry, resulting in more circulating stress hormones. These additional hormones can also have a negative impact on your ability to fall asleep that night which can then become a vicious circle.
So next time you think about watching that extra episode on Netflix, switch off the TV and get some extra shut eye instead and see what difference you notice!
