While You Were Sleeping
We all know that sleep is necessary and good. But did you know that sleep:
Strengthens your immune system
Repairs your cells, muscles, tissues and organs
Balances hormones that help regulate appetite, stress, growth, metabolism, libido and other bodily functions
Organizes your memories, allowing for the formation and storage of new memories, which is necessary for learning new information.
Improves cognition and performance
Helps with processing emotions
Removes toxins from your brain
Essentially, sleep is your body’s natural repair mode. Think of it as a nightly maintenance service. Unfortunately, sleep often takes a backseat to productivity, even though sleep is productivity’s BFF! Sleep is one of the most impactful and accessible tools in your wellness toolbox. Although there are many people for whom sleep isn’t necessarily as easily accessible - parents of young children, care givers, and people working multiple jobs to survive, to name a few - for most of us, sleep is a free wellness benefit that we are not optimizing for our well-being. Poor sleep has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, weight gain, and a weaker immune system. Neglecting rest isn’t just exhausting—it’s harmful. Chronic sleep deprivation can also lead to poor focus and memory as well as increased stress. Alternatively, a well-rested mind:
is more focused, alert, and creative
is better at solving problems
is more patient and emotionally healthy
has increased energy which can lead to making better lifestyle choices around food, exercise,
self-care, etc. - this is critical for individuals on a quest for better health
results in less anxiety, irritability, and mental exhaustion
You might be thinking, “I would LOVE to sleep, but it eludes me every night.” There are few things more frustrating than lying awake at night with your thoughts racing, stressing that you NEED to be sleeping. This can be a very difficult issue to resolve, but here are a few simple ideas to begin with:
Do your best to go to bed and wake up at approximately the same time each day.
Make your bedroom as dark as possible, keeping it cool and quiet.
Reduce light exposure before bed. It’s tempting to unwind by scrolling or watching television - but if you find it difficult to fall asleep when the lights finally go out, this could be a culprit. Try reading, meditation, or gentle stretches instead.
Pay close attention to how caffeine, alcohol, or certain foods close to bedtime might be impacting your sleep and adjust accordingly.
Sleep is more than rest—it’s essential for your physical and mental health. So tonight, try putting down your phone, dimming the lights, turning down the thermostat, and let your mind and body recover and recharge for every beautiful and challenging thing tomorrow holds!
