Living in such a hectic, hustle and bustle environment, sleep often falls way down the list in priorities. It is usually the first thing to suffer when there is too much to do and only so many hours in a day. However, skimping on sleep can have a counter-productive effect on almost every area of our lives. Failing to get adequate rest can result in more than just a feeling of sleepiness during the day.
Problems When Not Getting A Good Night's Sleep
- You will be more prone to accidents as your concentration
drops.
- You increased your risk of getting cardiovascular disease.
- You get depressed for easily.
- Your stamina decreases.
- Your immune function Decreases.
- You reduced your own ability to learn and remember.
- You become less creativity.
- You have slower metabolism and gain more weights.
Studies Problems When Not Getting A Good Night's Sleep
Studies have shown that people who are sleep deprived have a reaction time similar to that of an intoxicated person, making sleep deprivation almost equal to drunk driving in the number of accidents it causes. Dieters who get inadequate sleep will tend to lose about the same amount of weight as dieters who sleep well, however, they tend to lose more muscle mass and less fat. In the long run, this causes a decrease in the metabolic rate. End result... more body fat.
Here are some tips to getting a good night's sleep:
1. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Try going to bed around the same time every night, even on the weekends. This helps set your body's "clock" and over time you will naturally want to go to bed around the same time each night.
2. Wake up at the same time each day. When you're getting enough sleep, you should naturally wake up around the same time each morning without an alarm. If you need an alarm to wake up in the morning you probably need to set an earlier bedtime.
3. No heavy meals before retiring for the evening. A full stomach may make you feel tired, but your digestive system will be working harder, making it more difficult to fall asleep.
4. Quit smoking. Nicotine is a stimulant. At the very least, try not smoking for a couple of hours prior to going to bed.
5. Get regular exercise daily.
6. No alcohol or caffeine in the 4 - 6 hours before bedtime.
7. Reduce noise levels and keep the room as dark as possible.
8. Room temperature. Keeping the bedroom cool promotes better sleep.
9. Just say no to watching television in bed. Not only does the light from the TV suppresses melatonin production, television is known to stimulate the mind rather than relaxing it.
10. Don't use your bed for working on your laptop or any other work-related events. Reserve your bed for either sleeping or sex. This sends a cue to the body each time you go to bed that either it's time to go to sleep or get romantic.
Poor sleep will lead to low energy level. If the above getting a good night's sleep tips fail to promote better sleep, it may be time to check with a doctor to determine the root cause of the problem.
