5 Facts* about Sleep that will make you want to Improve your Sleep Habits
By: Marie Lee
Tags: Insomnia, Sleep, Health, Sleep Hacks, Productivity

Lack of sleep is linked to increased risk of chronic diseases.

According to Harvard University’s study on sleep and disease risk, adults who consistently lack sleep puts them more at risk for a chronic medical condition like heart disease and hypotension. The CDC states that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In comparison to other activities that can decrease your risk of chronic disease (like exercise or diet), something as simple as improving the quality and length of sleep is a small change you can easily make.

2. Sleep enhances memory and learning.

During sleep the body recharges and prepares for the upcoming day. An article in Psychology Today cites a study published in the Journal of Current Biology, suggesting that adequate sleep plays an essential role in memory consolidation and learning (though the mechanisms are unknown). People often neglect sleep, whether it’s staying up late binge-watching the newest episode of a TV series or cramming for a final. While most know this is not the healthy thing to do, sometimes we find ourselves in situations where there is (seemingly) no other option. Things like planning your day ahead of time or using a study schedule may help a person get to bed at a reasonable time to be set up for success the following day.

3. Dreams are good.

Aside from sleep, dreams can surprisingly have an impact on enhancing creativity and overall well-being. The article, Why Your Brain Needs to Dream researches the role of dreams as means for therapy, and dreams in relation to creativity. Your brain and body need down time and unpack the previous day as well as a chance to get ready for tomorrow, and a good night’s sleep does just that.

4. Lack of sleep can negatively impact relationships.

It should be no surprise that when you lack a good night’s sleep, the next day you are more likely to be irritable, more emotional, and quite possibly more anxious than normal. Undoubtedly, this has the potential to hinder your relationships. Time Magazine’s article, How Sleep Can Affect Your Relationships, According to Science, studies the relationship between lack of sleep and malfunction of the amygdala. The amygdala is part of the limbic system located in the brain and is responsible for the emotional response. Lack of sleep can lead to you lashing out more often, feeling more emotionally unstable, or overreacting to something you normally wouldn’t. Nobody enjoys feeling this way, and getting one more hour of sleep can likely improve your mood the next day.

5. Sleep boosts your immunity.

Mayo Clinic published an answer by Dr Olson to the question, Lack of Sleep: Can it make you sick? underlining the effects of lack of sleep and the impact on the immune system. Lack of sleep may potentially decrease the amount of cytokines produced by the body. Sleep deprivation unsurprisingly affects the speed at which you recover from a disease, and can even make you prone to catching one. Given our current climate is 2020 with a global pandemic amongst us, sleep should become, if not already, a priority.