We have all heard that sleep is important but we don’t all know why. When you don’t get enough sleep, your mental and physical health are in jeopardy because it plays a vital role in mind and body restoration. For you to feel good when you are awake depends largely on how well you’ve slept the nights before. A lot happens when we are asleep without us really noticing it, so here is a list to make you aware of the hard work your body puts in while you are resting.
It enhances learning, memory, and creativity.
While you are asleep, the brain is constantly creating new neural pathways to support what you are trying to learn. Whether you are trying to master a foreign language or a physical skill, sleep is crucial to your success. Creating neural pathways can increase retention of learned material, enforcing it for easier recall. It also promotes creativity by forming new ways to approach an issue.
It can improve heart health.
Sleep actually plays a large role in repairing the tissue and blood vessels in the heart and the rest of your body. Ongoing sleep deficiency has been linked to heart disease like high blood pressure and an increased risk for strokes.
It supports growth and development.
Getting quality sleep is especially important for children because during this time, the body releases a hormone that helps them grow normally. The same hormone also aids in tissue and cell repair in everyone (not just children). If you are dealing with an injury it is very difficult to heal without good quality sleep.
It helps you get along with others.
Quality sleep can lead to a better sense of well-being and happiness. If you are in a good emotional state, you are less likely to feel as stressed and feel negative towards people. With good sleep you are more likely to be in control of your emotions and less likely to suffer from depression.
It’s vital to your daytime performance and safety.
When you are tired your brain feels foggy and your reaction time and critical thinking skills are impaired. You tend to not pay as much attention when you’re sleep deprived which can lead to serious consequences, especially when operating a vehicle or heavy machinery. All it takes is one moment of lost focus to crash a car and injure yourself or others.
Take care of your mind and body. For better rest, avoid caffeinated beverages six hours before you plan on going to bed. You should also put away any electronic devices about an hour before you go to sleep because the blue light from the display can interrupt your sleep cycle. There can be many causes for not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep. If you are having difficulty with sleep and would like to get help, please feel free to contact me.
