Why We All Should Develop A Healthy Sleeping Routine

A good night’s sleep is super important for your health and wellbeing.

In fact, getting enough sleep at night is just as important as getting enough exercise and eating healthily. But the sad fact is that there’s a lot going on in our lives that can interfere with our body’s natural sleep patterns.

Today, people are sleeping a lot less compared to in the past, and the quality of our sleep has also declined. If you don’t have a healthy sleeping routine, it could affect a huge range of things including your general health, mental health, weight, productivity, and more.

Here are some of the main reasons to have a healthy sleep routine.

Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

If you want to lose weight, getting into a healthy sleeping routine is one of the best things that you can do for your body. Sleep deprivation can disrupt the daily fluctuations in your appetite hormones and can cause you to eat more calories throughout the day, which is why studies have found that poor sleep is strongly linked to weight gain. Even if you eat well and exercise, problems with your sleep can make it harder for you to maintain your ideal weight.

Reduce Risk of Serious Diseases

Sleep duration and quality can have a huge effect on various health risk factors. Not getting enough sleep can actually impact your risk of developing chronic and serious health problems such as heart disease. One review looked at fifteen studies to find that people who do not get enough sleep at night are at a much greater risk of developing heart disease or suffering from a stroke compared to people who consistently get 7-8 hours of sleep each night.

Improve Concentration and Productivity

Sleep is vital for many important aspects of your brain function, including concentration, performance, productivity and cognition. Anyone who has suffered a night of poor sleep knows just how much it can affect your focus and performance in work the next day.

Getting enough sleep makes it easier for you to get things done and keep a clear mind so that whatever you’re working on, you’ll get the best results. If you want to sleep better and improve your productivity, especially if you’re jet-lagged after a business trip, there are some good tips here to consider.

Boost Immune Function

Even a small amount of sleep deprivation has been shown to negatively impact immune function. One study monitored the development of the common cold after participants were infected with the virus under controlled circumstances. It found that participants who got more than eight hours of sleep per night were less likely to develop the cold compared to those who slept for less than seven hours. If you are often suffering from the common cold and other common ailments, getting into a good sleep routine and sleeping for at least eight hours per night can be very helpful.

Improved Mental Health

Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety tend to come hand in hand with poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation. The vast majority of people who suffer from depression also deal with poor sleep quality, and poor sleeping habits are linked to an increased risk of suicide. People suffering from sleep disorders like insomnia are also more likely to suffer from depression compared to people who sleep well.

Your sleep patterns and habits affect your overall health and wellbeing in many ways. Poor sleep habits can not only impact your focus and ability to concentrate, but they can also lead to weight gain, increased risk of mental health issues, poor immune function and a higher risk of serious health problems.