How sleep impacts your energy, health, and wellbeing
Did you know that one in three adults doesn’t get enough sleep? How much sleep do you get? Poor sleep isn’t just an inconvenience, it can severely affect your energy levels, physical health, and overall wellbeing.
Sleep is a vital component of our health. Studies have shown that sleep plays a key role in various bodily functions, including repairing muscles, synthesising hormones, and consolidating memories. Just as you need food and water to survive, so your body needs sleep to function optimally.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
When your body doesn’t get enough quality sleep, it can be challenging to concentrate, maintain focus, and stay motivated throughout the day. Longer term, lack of sleep can lead to health complications, including weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes, since sleep plays a crucial role in regulating hunger hormones and insulin sensitivity.
Chronic sleep deprivation has also been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and a weakened immune system. It also significantly impacts your mental and emotional wellbeing by increasing stress since, when you’re sleep-deprived, your body produces more stress hormones, which makes you feel anxious and irritable. Not surprisingly, chronic sleep deprivation has been associated with increased mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
So what can you do to prioritise sleep and improve your health and wellbeing? Start by assessing your current sleep habits and identifying areas for improvement. Take small steps to enhance your sleep hygiene and make sleep a non-negotiable part of your day.
Adopting better sleep practices will enhance your physical health, your mental clarity and emotional balance.
By following these insights and tips you can secure a healthier future. Our wellbeing often begins at night, inside a warm bed, beneath the cover of rejuvenating sleep. Don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s rest!
Tips
Click here for a Free Sleep Smarter Booklet
Sleep is a vital component of our health. Studies have shown that sleep plays a key role in various bodily functions, including repairing muscles, synthesising hormones, and consolidating memories. Just as you need food and water to survive, so your body needs sleep to function optimally.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
When your body doesn’t get enough quality sleep, it can be challenging to concentrate, maintain focus, and stay motivated throughout the day. Longer term, lack of sleep can lead to health complications, including weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes, since sleep plays a crucial role in regulating hunger hormones and insulin sensitivity.
Chronic sleep deprivation has also been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and a weakened immune system. It also significantly impacts your mental and emotional wellbeing by increasing stress since, when you’re sleep-deprived, your body produces more stress hormones, which makes you feel anxious and irritable. Not surprisingly, chronic sleep deprivation has been associated with increased mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
So what can you do to prioritise sleep and improve your health and wellbeing? Start by assessing your current sleep habits and identifying areas for improvement. Take small steps to enhance your sleep hygiene and make sleep a non-negotiable part of your day.
Adopting better sleep practices will enhance your physical health, your mental clarity and emotional balance.
By following these insights and tips you can secure a healthier future. Our wellbeing often begins at night, inside a warm bed, beneath the cover of rejuvenating sleep. Don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s rest!
Tips
- Avoid late-night exposure to artificial light (particularly from phones/laptops)
- Develop a consistent schedule: go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends
- Have a bedtime ritual: create a routine before bed to wind down, for example, relax in a bath
- Take regular exercise
- Eat a balanced diet and avoid caffeine after 2pm
- Optimise your bedroom: ensure the room is dark, quiet and not too warm
Click here for a Free Sleep Smarter Booklet
