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From: Cosmopolitan
It is a given that a full night’s sleep can make you feel rested and fresh in the morning. For adults, that means seven or eight hours of sleep. But life happens. Maybe you have work that absolutely needs to be done before you doze off. Or maybe you have a late-night bonding session with your besties. Often, when we need to catch up with our work or social responsibilities, it is sleep that we immediately sacrifice. What’s an hour or two of less sleep, right?
But it actually makes a lot of difference. Not only does a full night’s sleep give you the energy you need to tackle your day-to-day responsibilities, but getting eight hours of sleep regularly also has several health benefits. And with the demands of life now, it’s an absolute must that you develop the habit of getting enough sleep every night. Here are some of them:
Regular proper sleep can help strengthen your immune system.
And everyone needs a robust, healthy immune system right now! According to studies, sleep has a likely role in strengthening your immunity. When you get high-quality sleep, your immune defense is given the proper boost to fight off certain infections. In contrast, bad sleeping habits can interfere with one’s immune system, making the body more prone to colds and flu, among others.Sleep can brighten your day!
Sleep experts say there is a likely correlation between the amount of sleep you get and the mood you feel the next day. Simply put, getting quality sleep is essential to and beneficial for our happiness and well-being. Those who don’t, however, are likely to feel cranky for the better part of the day, which is likely to make sleeping properly much more difficult.Read More: Healthy sleep habits lower risk of heart failure
It helps you manage your weight and appetite.
Sleeping does not equate to weight loss (don’t substitute your daily exercise for afternoon naps and having a healthy diet just yet). But doctors say lack of sleep increases your body’s production of hormones that boost your appetite and decreases the production of hormones that makes you feel full. In short: those few hours of sleep you keep missing every night could make you more prone to binge eating and snacking.Sleep helps improve your focus and memory.
While the brain isn’t the only part of your body that gains from a full night’s sleep (hint: It’s your entire body), it is the top recipient of its benefits. Sleeping helps improve brain function—thus possibly affecting your ability to concentrate and be attentive. Plus, quality sleep allows your brain to process the information you received during the day, turning them into long-term memories.Of course, it’s understandable if you can’t always get the proper Zs at night due to the worries and stress of the day. When you find sleep difficult to catch at night, you might need a bit of help to give you that restful sleep you deserve.
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