4 reasons why you should get more sleep

Your project’s due tomorrow and you’ve still got a dozen things to do. The thing is, it’s already 11 pm and you’re still in the office. Looks like you’ve got to pull another all nightery.

After getting everything done, you finally go to bed at 4 am only to get up and ready for work at 6 am. Throughout the day, you find it nearly impossible to function and everything feels like it’s in a haze. If this sounds like par for the course, then it may be time for you to seriously reconsider your lifestyle. On the long-term, chronic sleep deprivation can be seriously bad for your health.

For example, failing to get enough sleep regularly puts you at an increased risk of stroke, heart disease and weight gain. These are just some of the effects of sleep deprivation and it highlights a serious problem faced by many of us.

Data has shown that a shocking number of working adults often struggle to get enough sleep on a daily basis. This can be attributed to a culture of overwork and increased responsibilities all around.

Running the rat race is one thing, but the culture of chronic overworking is not putting employees at risk of entering an early grave. So, if you find yourself dozing off in the workplace on more than one occasion, you may want to take a look at what we have to say.

Here are 4 reasons why you should consider getting more sleep.

1. You’ll feel fresher and more alert

Natural, healthy sleep is the brain’s way of resting and recovering. In order for your brain to store and process information it needs time to rest which is why sleep is crucial. After a good night’s sleep, you wake up feeling well-rested and ready to tackle the day. With enough rest, your brain also becomes sharper and you’ll find that your cognitive abilities have increased.

It is no surprise also that many sports coaches recommend athletes in the NFL odds and in the soccer teams to have a regular sleep routine.

This makes learning much easier and improves your problem-solving abilities. In stark contrast, turning up to work half-asleep increases your likelihood of making mistakes and makes you less productive.

2. Your immune system gets a boost

Uh-oh, looks like it’s flu season and your friends and family are starting to fall sick. In this situation, the best thing to do would be to ensure that you get enough sleep every night.

If you find yourself being vulnerable to the flu, chances are your body is telling you that you’re not getting enough rest. When your body is at rest i.e. asleep, your immune system releases specialized proteins called cytokines. These cytokines help fight infection and viruses which improves your immunity.

When you’re sleep deprived, the production of cytokines drops. Drastically. And this makes it easier for you to fall sick. So, if you’re looking to live a healthier life, maybe start by going to bed earlier for a change.

3. Sleep makes you happier

Yes, you read that right. A UCLA study has shown that participants who were able to get sufficient sleep reported that they often felt happier and enjoyed better moods.

Remember how babies and toddlers get cranky when they miss their naps? The same applies to adults too. Neurologists have agreed that sleep allows us to process negative emotions and events more effectively.

Thus, ensuring that you would be happier in general and much more positive. Along with this, regularly getting a good night’s rest is essential for fighting mental disorders like depression and anxiety issues.

Sometimes, if you’ve had a bad day, it may be better to just take a hot shower, crawl into bed and sleep it off. In the morning, you’ll likely feel better and ready to take on the day.

4. Sleep actually helps you lose weight

As if you didn’t need another reason to sleep more, here’s another one.

Strange as it may seem, crawling into bed and sleeping for 7 hours every day may be the key to shedding those extra pounds. When you sleep, your body releases various hormones and amongst them are ghrelin and leptin. These 2 hormones are vital for regulating and/or suppressing your body’s appetite. If the body becomes sleep deprived, the production of these hormones is disrupted.

As a result, sleep deprivation makes it more difficult for you to control your cravings and appetite. So, if you’re looking to stick to your diet, maybe also stick to an earlier bedtime.

There is no doubt that today’s modern workplace can make it impossible for a person to get a good night’s rest regularly. However, the negative effects of chronic sleep deprivation are too serious to ignore which is why lifestyle changes are essential if one is to maintain good health.