There is nothing, and we repeat nothing, worse than waking up after a night of only a few hours sleep and realizing that it is not Saturday today (even if you did party like it was Friday last night) and that you have to get up, get dressed and get to work for a full 8-hour shift. Ugh.
What’s worse? You probably don’t even know the harm you are really doing and the perks you are missing out on by losing those essential hours of rest. Luckily, we’re here to lay ‘em on the line.
Sleep helps improve memory
Remember all those insane late-night cramming sessions you did the night before your finals in high school and university? Turns out, they probably did you very little good. REM sleep, the most important part of the sleep cycle and the one you are least likely to reach the fewer hours you put in, is when the brain absorbs and processes everything you learned throughout the day.
Sleep can keep you skinnier
Have you ever noticed those days when you’ve only put in a good few hours between the sheets and you seem to be hungry all day? That’s because the part of your brain that controls sleep also controls your metabolism and when you are feeling lethargic and sluggish, it automatically starts looking for a pick-me-up, namely in the form of energy-producing carbs and sugars.
Sleep can keep you happy
Not only does lack of sleep directly impact your next day mood, but it can also affect your moods in the long term. Your overall well being, including your stress levels and emotional stability, are greatly impacted by the amount of sleep you accumulate over a number of days. Meaning? The more sleep you lack over an extended period of time, the more likely you are to feel depressed and unhappy.
It makes you a better driver
Bet you didn’t know that driving while tired actually kills more people than driving while drunk. Scary thought, huh? But it’s the truth. A person’s reaction levels are severely limited when they are tired and the chance of you getting into an accident while lacking sleep are much higher than one would anticipate. Long story short, don’t get behind the wheel if you haven’t had enough time under the sheets.
It makes you look better
When you’re sleeping – and we’re talking a good healthy deep sleep here – your body temperature will start to lower in order to conserve energy. This amazing natural reaction is actually designed to help your body focus itself on other things, like the healing, rejuvenating, and strengthening of your skin, helping you look younger and more radiant.
