Think about how you feel on a Sunday morning vs a Wednesday morning.
Typically, weekends don’t require alarms. You go to sleep when you want, and wake up when your body is ready to start your day, typically after 8 or 9 hours. Weekdays are not the same. Maybe you’re up late working on a project or watching TV – you wake up to an alarm after 6 hours of sleep.
The experience is very different, and your days are, too. That’s because good sleep is linked to SO much in our lives, that a poor-night’s sleep impacts almost every aspect of your day, from start to finish.
You may be surprised to find out what and how sleep impacts all of us. Many of your day-to-day struggles may be linked to poor sleep – so take a look at these 3 reasons that sleep is SO important, and make sure you get your 8-9 hours a night!
Sleep is linked to high concentration and productivity
Studies have shown that sleep is important for various aspects of brain function, such as cognition, concentration, productivity, and performance.
You may notice that after a good night’s sleep, you’re able to focus more quickly and for longer periods of time, you make less mistakes, and you feel productive all day long. Lack of sleep does the opposite, which could seriously impact your work rate and performance.
Sleep is essential for physical athletic performance
The importance of moving your body is a different (just-as-important) conversation, but sleep seriously impacts your ability to perform. Whether it’s an at-home workout, a run, or a game/match, you need sleep to perform your best.
In fact, studies have shown that 8 hours of sleep will improve speed, accuracy, reaction times, and mental well-being for athletes.
Restful sleep improves immune function
Check this out: one large two-week study showed that people who slept less than 7 hours were almost 3 times more likely to develop a cold than those who slept 8 hours or more.
Sleep and your immune function are directly connected – the more run down you are, the easier it is for you to contract a cold or virus. So, if you find yourself getting colds often, ensuring that you get at least 8 hours of sleep per night should be a top priority.
As you can see, a good night’s sleep is essential for a happy and healthy, productive day. We know that life gets busy and children, pets, or work can get in the way – but it’s vital that you make time for yourself, and get the much-needed rest that your body needs.
TIP: At diet & health, we recommend sticking to a sleep schedule as closely as possible. As hard as it might be, it’s the best way to ensure you’re getting the sleep you need to succeed every single day!
