We spend a third of our life sleeping. And even though we need less sleep as we get older, we still need an average of 8 hours per night. Which in our busy lives might seems too long, something we don’t have time for. We are tempted to exchange sleep for studying, socializing, or working and then try to “make up” for the lack of it with a few cups of coffee or an energy drink. But in reality nothing can substitute a good night’s sleep.
Here are 7 reasons to get a good night’s shut eye.
Lack of sleep will often leave you irritable, stressed, angry or sad. And a sleep deficit over time can even lead to depression. So a good night’s sleep is vital for feeling good and having a more positive outlook on life.
Looking tired is not a good look in general. A good night’s sleep banishes red eyes and dark under-eye circles. Also, while you sleep, your skin renews itself making you look younger and more attractive. Moreover, a study by scientists at Uppsala University in Sweden showed that sleep can prevent weight gain as it speeds up metabolism.
Sleep is vital to memory formation. It consolidates memories and makes them stronger. And intense training will not make up for lost sleep.
Regular lack of sleep is associated with a shorter lifespan. A study showed that the death rate was higher among women who got less than five hours of sleep per night.
Lack of sleep suppresses the immune system leaving you more vulnerable to illnesses. Studies show that getting more than 7 hours of sleep per night decreases the risk of catching a cold.
Loss of sleep impairs your attention to detail, after a good night’s sleep you will be able to concentrate better and work harder. You won’t be struggling all day to stay awake so will be able to get more done.
You will make better decisions.You have probably noticed that in the morning your problems seem not as bad and you come up with a solution quicker. That is because while you are asleep your brain continues to look for an answer so when you wake up you can have a few new ideas.
