It’s always been clear how important sleep is to our health and wellbeing and yet it is still taken very much for granted.
People who frequently get the recommended amount of sleep feel better, look better and are in better health overall. On the other hand, lack of sleep is associated with poor mental health and can lead to anxiety or feelings of anger. Studies show poor quality of sleep also increases the risk of an early death by 12%.
The Benefit of Sleep on Overall Health
Regularly getting sufficient night’s sleep can have many great benefits on our overall health. It boosts immunity, reducing the chances of catching colds and flu’s. If you manage to get at least 7 hours sleep per night, your risk of obesity or weight gain reduces.
Sleep boosts our mental wellbeing reducing feelings of depression and anxiety. Additional benefits sleep has on our physical health include helping ward off diabetes and heart disease by preventing changes in glucose, heart rate and blood pressure.
Tips to Get a Better Night’s Sleep
- Stick to a sleep schedule.
- Create a relaxing environment e.g. temp at 18°, free from media and noise.
- Write down a to-do list as this helps to organise your thoughts.
- Keep a sleep diary to discover lifestyle habits or daily activities that prevent sleep.
- Exercise as this will relieve tension.
- Avoid bright light in the evening and exposure to sunlight in the morning.
- Wind down an hour before bed by reading.
- Avoid electronic interaction and social media.