Importance of Sleep
“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” — Thomas Dekker
We all know that getting a good night’s rest is vital to our well-being. Here are ways that sleep affects our health and good habits to start training ourselves to get into.
According to Psychology Today, “Sleep is the balm that soothes and restores after a long day of work and play.” Certainly sleep is essential to our daily function. Here are 3 different ways that sleep affects our daily lives.
Mood Stability- Sleep helps our brain to process through all of the emotions that we experience throughout the day. When we aren’t getting enough sleep, we tend to have more negative emotional reactions and less positive ones. Not getting enough sleep on a regular basis can lead to mood disorders such as depression or panic disorders.
Healthier Heart- When we sleep, our blood pressure naturally drops. This eases our heart and blood vessels. The longer we are awake, the longer our heart has to work at a faster pace. This can lead to heart disease, including stroke.
Weight Control- There is a link between the amount of sleep we receive and our appetites. Sleep deprivation affects specific hormones that help regulate hunger (leptin and ghrelin). When that imbalance occurs, we are more likely to give in to the temptation to eat.
Sleep plays a vital role in how our bodies heal and recover from events during the day. It’s important to establish routines to ensure that you get the best sleep possible. Good sleep routines to consider include shutting off devices 30 minutes before bed, take a shower or bath, journal, pray or meditate, and read a favorite book. The goal is to unwind our bodies from our busy days and begin to relax before turning the lights off for the night.
Reference and further reading:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200708/sleep-strange-bedfellows