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It’s amazing how much your life can be affected by poor sleep habits. For one thing, when you’re tired, it’s nearly impossible to maintain a positive attitude. For another, your body is slowly degrading physically without those essential hours of respite.
Sleep has some profound impacts on your life:
- Higher Productivity
Research from a RAND study found that the United States experiences approximately $411 billion in lost productivity every year due to lack of sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, it’s harder for your brain to function properly. Your cognitive reflexes are slow, and it’s difficult to process things when you’re short on sleep.
Your mood will drastically improve when you get good sleep, including increased optimism, less stress, greater socialization, and a happier disposition. It can make or break your whole day.
- Weight Loss
Add getting a good night’s sleep to your weight loss regimen. Your metabolism is more likely to function properly when you’ve slept well. What’s more, you’re less likely to give into cravings and more likely to make healthy, self-disciplined choices when your brain is well rested.
- Less Sickness
Sleep is an essential process for your immune systemto recharge and produce the energy it needs to defend against illness. Sleep is also a strengthening factor for your respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, and central nervous systems. When you’re well-rested, these networks are less likely to succumb to illness.
- Younger Looks
People who sleep well age much more slowly than those who don’t. Sleep strengthens and repairs damage on enzymes in your body called telomere caps that protect your genes. When these caps are strong, it slows the aging process.
To some extent, getting enough sleep after a period of poor sleep can also reverse the aging process, making you look younger once again. You’ll look and feel more attractive as a direct result.
- Greater Cognitive Ability
Sleep has long been linked to the ability to perform better on tests and make smarter decisions.According to the National Sleep Foundation, students who typically received B’s or better in school got at least 30 minutes more sleep and went to bed up to an hour earlier than those with lower grades.
The same principle applies to adults in the workplace. If you want to be more creative, have better ideas, and contribute more at work, sleep is the key.
- Confidence
You simply feel better about yourself when you sleep better. Your brain is less likely to be clouded with thoughts of depression, and you look younger and healthier. You’re more likely to feel attractive and successful.
- Personal Achievement
How can you achieve your dreams when you barely have the energy to get through your normal daily tasks? Those who get a full night’s sleep are more likely to actively pursue their dreams and achieve more in the long run than those who take sleep for granted.
How to Get Better Sleep
Now that you know the overwhelming importance of getting a good night’s sleep, it’s time to learn how to do so. If you struggle to sleep well at night, here are some tips to change your life.
Get a New Mattress: When people don’t sleep well at night, it’s usually because of their mattress. An older mattress that’s not suited for your body can make you toss and turn all night long. Go ahead and invest in yourself by purchasing a new mattress.Read reviews carefullyto make sure you get the best one for you.
Improve the Environment: Add blackout curtains, paint the walls a more soothing color, get more comfortable bedding, and remove distractions from the room. Your ability to fall asleep quickly, maintain a routine, and get quality sleep depends on your sleep atmosphere.
Remove Technology: Many studies have been performed on the effect of technology in the bedroom, and all of them have shown suppressed melatonin, a more alert brain, and an overall lower quality of sleep. Remove the television from your bedroom and check your phone at the door.
Reserve the Bedroom for Sleep: Don’t do chores, work, or participate in other activities in your bedroom unless you absolutely have to. Your brain will associate that room with busy work rather than rest, and you’ll have a hard time falling asleep at night.
It might take a few changes to your current lifestyle, but you can enjoy a great night’s sleep and all the benefits that come with it!
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