Part of feeling your best is ensuring you are getting sufficient sleep. This means you really have to make sleep a priority and set up your daily routine in a way that allows you to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep (8 is the ultimate target, 6 is the bare minimum).
Many people don't realize how important it is to get a good night's sleep, and often mask the effects (from lack of sleep) by running on caffeine or other stimulants to get through the day. You are just putting a band-aid over the wound here, your body needs proper rest for so many reasons.
Consequences of lack of sleep:
Inadequate sleep is a health epidemic these days. It can result in harm to a person's own health as it is tied to mental illness, stress, obesity, hypertension and diabetes. It can even cause harm to others - overtired drivers are more likely to cause an accident.
Now here are some of the great benefits pf getting a good night of sleep:
- Improved concentration
- Ability to make better decisions
- Increased energy for daily activities as well as exercise
- Supports weight-loss
- Stronger immune system
- Improved memory
So make sure you start making your sleep a top health priority It is just as important as eating healthy and exercising!
Tip: Set yourself up with a relaxing bed time routine (drink tea, read, take a bath, meditate, etc) to help your brain shut down before you hit the hay. Try to keep off the phone, tv and computer the last 30-60 minutes before bed time since these electronic devices are very stimulating to your brain. Also keep away from the late night snacking since that can also cause a poor quality of sleep.
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