Many of us want to sleep as little as possible. There is so much to do that sleep can seem like a waste of time. Yet sleep, an essential time of rest and rejuvenation, benefits our minds and bodies in many ways. Everyone knows the downside of not getting enough sleep. You feel drowsy, have trouble concentrating, your productivity is lower and you are more irritable. Sleep is not a luxury, it is a need.
Here are 7 benefits of a good night's sleep.
Sleep helps to repair your body and makes you look better. Much of the body's healing work takes place while you sleep. Without the need to attend to all of the functions of daily life, your immune system and organs of detoxification can focus attention on cleansing and restoration. This is the time when your body does some major house cleaning, taking care of wastes that have accumulated during the day and repairing cellular damage. While you are sleeping, your cells produce more protein. These protein molecules form the building blocks for cells, allowing them to repair any damage caused by stress, sun exposure (ultraviolet rays), and so on. This means that also your skin and muscles are repaired and/or regenerated, which gives you a healthy look. Sleep is essential to the immune system. Without adequate sleep, the immune system becomes weak, and the body becomes more vulnerable to infection and disease.
Sleep reduces stress. Although stress may seem like a natural result of today's fast paced lifestyle, this of course doesn't mean that it's good for your body. Too much stress increases the aging and degeneration of organs, cells and other body parts. By reducing high levels of stress, sleep helps to reverse these effects and encourages a state of relaxation.
Sleep helps you to concentrate during the day. Anyone who has had a night with little sleep will recognize this one. You feel lousy and sometimes it can be hard to focus on a simple conversation. Researchers believe that during sleep, neurons can shut down and repair any damage done during the day. Without these repairs, the neurons may not function correctly due to a buildup of waste products.
Sleep improves your memory. Researchers do not fully understand why we sleep and dream, but a process called memory consolidation occurs during sleep. While your body is resting, your brain is busy processing the day, making connections between events, sensory input, feelings and memories. We might learn new things during the day, but night time is when it all sinks in. That's why it could be better to have a good night's sleep before an exam, instead of studying the whole night through.
Sleep controls your body weight. Sleep helps to regulate the hormones (cortisol) that affect and control your appetite. Studies have shown that when your body is deprived of sleep, the normal hormone balances are interrupted and your appetite increases. Unfortunately this increase in appetite doesn't lead to a craving for fruits and veggies, but instead your body longs for food high in calories, fats and carbohydrates. So, if you're trying to lose a few pounds, make sure you get enough sleep.
Sleep reduces the risk of depression. Sleep impacts many of the chemicals in your body, including serotonin. People with a deficiency in serotonin are more likely to suffer from depression. You can help to prevent depression by making sure you are getting the right amount of sleep.
Sleep will make you a nicer person. Lack of sleep can make you irritable and cranky, which seriously affects your social interactions. Taken to extremes, severe sleep deprivation causes disorientation and paranoia.
So never underestimate how important a good night's rest is.
Sleep well!
Gerber de Lange is always searching for more ways to improve his everyday life in every way. He shares the information and experience he gathers along the way at the following site:
http://everydayimprovement.com
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