There are many reasons why we may not be sleeping well, including physical to emotional and environmental factors. It is probably safe to assume that almost everyone has felt the effects of a poor night’s sleep, with the consensus being that it is not a particularly enjoyable experience. It is well known that sleeping well can affect many areas of our lives positively, but you might be surprised at just how much a good night’s sleep can help you out. Keep reading to discover how you can improve your health just by getting restful sleep.

Better immune function

Not getting enough sleep can affect your immune system, leaving you more susceptible to infections such as the flu. It has been shown that getting less than seven hours sleep a night can increase your chances of catching a cold by up to three times, compared to people who slept for at least eight hours. If you are someone who gets sick more often than others, consider going to bed just a little bit earlier and that might just make all the difference.

Mental health

We have probably all felt the effects of a bad night’s sleep on our cognitive function, and this can worsen over time if bad sleep continues. A restful sleep means that your brain will work better and faster overall for everything from memory to hand-eye coordination. Your state of mind will also improve, and you will find yourself happier and enjoying life just that little bit more.

Weight

Studies have shown that sleeping well is linked to the maintenance of a healthy weight, and this may be because sleep and metabolism are controlled by the same area of the brain. People who do not get a restful night’s sleep are likely to feel hungrier throughout the day, which leads to more snacking and consumption of unhealthy foods. Additionally, it has been shown that people who are sleep deprived lose more muscle mass, whereas those who sleep well lose more fat. So if you are looking to lose a little weight by starting a healthy eating plan, book in for at least eight hours of sleep every night as well!

As these three points show, getting restful sleep can improve your health in many different ways. If you are consistently not getting a good night’s sleep, consider why this might be the case: maybe your room isn’t dark enough or you are sleeping on an old and uncomfortable mattress. If you are in the market for a new mattress, specialists such as Sleepy’s can help you make the right choice to suit your needs: just visit Sleepys.com.au for more information.

Do you usually get a restful sleep? Why or why not? What do you think are the contributing factors to this? Have you had a particularly bad experience with sleep deprivation? What did you do after that to get a restful night’s sleep? Leave your comments and experiences in the comments down below.

Images courtesy of Graur Codrin @ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Please follow and like us: