Sleep—and the whole notion of getting enough sleep—is something that many of us don’t consciously think about… until you’re not getting enough of it. But that needs to change.
I cannot stress enough the importance of a good quality sleep—on a regular basis. Most people need about 8 hours of sleep per night. With 7-9 hours being the recommended amount for optimal health. Just because it’s possible to get away with a lot less sleep, doesn’t mean that you should. There is a reason why there’s a recommended amount of sleep your should be getting per night – it’s healthier for you.
10 Reasons You Should Strive to Get More Sleep
By getting between 7-9 hours of sleep per night you will—
[list type=”4″]
- Help build (and sustain) a stronger immunity
- Increase your memory
- Be able to better control your weight
- Lower your risk of injury
- Be able to think clearer
- Experience a better mood
- Experience less pain
- Have a better sex life
- Reduce stress
- Keep your heart healthy
[/list]
If you’ve ever gone a long period of time with a limited amount of sleep you’ll know, that your body starts to pay the price.
The Cost of a Lack of Sleep
[list type=”4″]
- Your mental capabilities start to fail
- You become irritable
- You have trouble concentrating
- You tend to eat more—because your mind associates food with energy
- and, you may end up get sick
[/list]
All things I’m sure you’d rather do without.
Now I know what you’re thinking – “I don’t purposely set out to get less sleep, it just happens.” To which I would reply, “Then do something about it!”
There are a number of factors that hinder the amount of sleep that we get per night. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t change that.
5 Reasons You May Not Be Able to Fall Asleep
[list type=”4″]
- Stress
- Work—which is often associated with stress
- Eating too late at night
- Social gatherings
- Excessive drinking—”passing out” does not count as sleep
[/list]
What ever it is that’s keeping you up at night, you need to work on fixing it. Especially if you’re going for long periods of time with a limited amount of sleep. In most of our cases, that means changing our lifestyle. Which can be easier said than done. That said, there are some simple things that you can do to help you drift off to sleep faster.
Quick Sleep Fixes
If you have trouble falling asleep, try—
[list type=”4″]
- Reading instead of watching TV before bed
- Having a hot epsom salt bath
- Doing some light yoga stretches
- Meditating
- Drinking a warm caffeine-free beverage, like camomile tea or warm milk
[/list]
Having a regular good night sleep will significantly improve your life and overall happiness. So if you try all of the fixes above and are still having trouble falling asleep, or are currently experiencing chronic insomnia, I highly recommend that you consult your doctor.
Good night!
Nicole
