Do you routinely fail to get enough shut-eye when you turn in for the night? Sometimes it’s just a matter of needing more discipline — like turning off the TV, silencing notifications on your phone, and steering clear of eating or drinking too close to bedtime.
But a sleep disorder like insomnia, which makes it hard to go to sleep no matter how hard you try, is another kettle of fish altogether. Insomnia, which affects many adults at some point in their lives, is usually due to a traumatic or stressful event. It can persist for days, weeks, or months.
Adults need seven or more hours of sleep every night for optimal health. If you’re struggling to enjoy quality sleep regularly, speak to your primary healthcare provider for some help. It’s worth finding help since there are so many benefits that come with getting quality sleep every night.
Keep reading to learn about four benefits you’re missing out on if you don’t get enough shut-eye.
- Get Sick Less Often
A chronic lack of sleep will adversely affect your immune system, and that’ll leave you more prone to getting sick. Do you want your body to better fight off colds and viruses? If so, one way is by getting quality sleep regularly. A strong immune system will also help you get over sicknesses faster than if you have a compromised immune system. So, sleep for better health.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight
If you take pride in working out, eating right, and being the best version of yourself possible, you’ll want to be mindful of any bad habits jeopardizing your health objectives.
According to one study, people who boosted the amount of sleep they got lessened their daily caloric intake by an average of 270 kilocalories. That works out to around 26 pounds of weight loss over 36 months. Prioritize getting your beauty sleep. You’ll find it easier to stay fit.
- Reduce Stress
All it takes is to look at some statistics on stress to know that many people struggle with stress. Consider, for instance, the following statistics:
- 33% of people say they feel extreme stress
- 77% of people say they experience stress that negatively impacts their physical health
- 73% of people experience stress that negatively affects their mental health
- 48% of people say they have difficulty sleeping due to stress
But the good news is that getting enough sleep can help lower your stress and improve your mood. If you don’t get enough sleep, you can become more irritable and stressed out. The last thing you want is chronic insomnia to lead to a mood disorder like depression or anxiety.
University of Pennsylvania researchers found in a study that subjects who got only 4.5 hours of sleep nightly for a week reported feeling angry, stressed, mentally winded, and sad. But when the subjects got back to getting enough sleep, they reported a major improvement in their mood.
- Concentrate Better
A lot of people have difficulty achieving the right work-life balance. With family, work, and other responsibilities, it’s way too easy to miss out on getting enough sleep, eating well, and taking proper care of yourself. Remember, though, that you can’t really take good care of anyone else if you’re not taking really good care of yourself. Make a point of getting enough sleep to increase your attention span and concentration. It’s hard to get things done when you can’t focus.
You need to know your limit and stay within it. If you have kids but need a break every now and then, hire a babysitter or ask a trusted loved one or friend to watch them for a while. If you’re overworked on the job, speak to your supervisor or ask to be able to work from home. If you own a rental property and are overwhelmed with running it, hire a property manager. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Get help when you need it to get the proper rest you need.
Getting quality sleep on a nightly basis is a must if you want to live a long and healthy life. You’re leaving a lot of benefits on the table if you’re not getting enough rest. Sweet dreams!