You aren’t your best self when you lack sleep.

“SLEEPING Beauty” was always one of my favourite childhood princesses. Can you imagine how she must have felt after waking up from a 100-year-old sleep? I am sure most of us have been cranky or unproductive during the day because we didn’t have a good night’s rest, whether intentionally or not. Good sleep is such an important part of your nightly routine to function effectively. You may not know how important it is, but your body certainly knows of it. It is said that most adults need at least seven hours of sleep at night. Children, however, need more hours in their schedule. An internal “body clock” within us works on a 24 hour periodic cycle. As the day progresses, you will tend to feel more tired until bedtime. When natural light disappears in the evening/night, our bodies release melatonin. It’s a hormone that helps us to feel sleepy or drowsy. As the sun rises and natural light returns, our body will start to release the cortisol hormone, which helps us feel energised and alert. I must admit, the science behind sleep is pretty cool to read about.

Sleep is important, but getting enough sleep is the key to effectiveness and good health. Taking a “quick nap” in the evenings or sleeping for only 2-4 hours because you went to bed late is not healthy for you or your body. It’s not even healthy if it’s just a one-off instance. You should always allow your body to get its seven hours of deserved rest. Our bodies are so complex that they work long and hard during the day. It makes sense that we give it some rest so it can work the next day effectively. A lack of sleep can leave you with mood swings, decreased cognitive functions or a delay in reaction to events or things that are happening in your environment. You aren’t your best self when you lack sleep because your body depends so much on it. If you neglect your body’s need for sleep, you can eventually develop a tolerance for sleep deprivation. You may not be alerted that it’s negatively impacting your body—but your mind and body are yet still impacted. There’s a misconception about this once people start to feel like this after neglecting their sleep. They may say, “oh, my body no longer needs seven hours of sleep”. You not “feeling sleepy” or not being aware doesn’t mean your body does not need sleep.

My advice to you is to always follow a strict sleeping schedule. Don’t try to pack the day’s work into the night—you’ll regret it in the morning. You can invest in a comfortable sleep environment by finding pillows, sheets, blankets, pillowcases or mattresses that feel great to you for your sleep. If by chance, you feel as though you don’t burn enough energy during the day then try exercising during the day—it can help you prepare for sleep. Set the temperature and light to your liking. Personally, I simply cannot sleep without a fan on and hate when it’s humid or hot around bedtime. Most importantly, you should try to stay away from your phone or any device in your bedroom. They can distract you from sleep and disrupt you from a good night’s rest.

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