The Benefits of Sleep

Your alarm clock is blaring, and as you struggle to turn it off, you promise yourself you’re going to bed at a decent hour tonight. But when it comes time to go to sleep, you’re again pulling another late night. Maybe you need to wake up to the health, beauty and feel-good benefits of sleep.

Missing even a few hours of sleep can have a negative impact. Lack of sleep accumulates over time, and it’s estimated that a “sleep debt” of ten hours or more will affect performance. The benefits of sticking to the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night have immeasurable benefits.

Boosts your immune system

German researchers studied a group of volunteers vaccinated against hepatitis A. They found those who got a good night’s sleep showed a stronger response to the vaccine. A regular night’s sleep helps your body’s immune system repair and rejuvenate itself.

It makes you smarter

Got a big final exam coming up? Getting a good night’s sleep can prove to help your grades more than an all night cramming session. We may learn everything while we’re awake, but it all sinks in while we’re sleeping at night. Our brains process the day’s information while we sleep. Harvard Medical School researchers recently found that people who slept after learning and practicing a new exercise remembered more about the it the following day than those who stayed up all night practicing. Don’t worry, the occasional all night will not have any long term negative effects.

It helps you look better

They don’t call if beauty rest for nothing! You can spend millions on skin creams and watch your diet, but you need your sleep for glowing skin. When you’re sleeping, the body goes into repair mode. It regenerates skin, blood, brain cells, as well as muscles.

Increases concentration

People who suffer from sleep deprivation are irritable and experience reduced concentration. You are more likely to make mistakes and have a slower reaction time.

You’ll be a nicer person

The most potent and obvious effects of sleep deprivation affect behavior. Lack of sleep will make you cranky, aggressive and unsociable. At extreme levels, severe sleep deprivation causes disorientation and paranoia.

How to get a good night’s sleep

- Go to bed at the same time every night so that your bedtime becomes routine. It’s also a good idea to get up at the same time every morning

- If you can’t sleep, don’t lie awake worrying, get up and do something relaxing

- Remember that bed is for bed and not for TV or reading

- You should abstain from alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes for at least three hours prior to going to bed

- Counting sheep as a way to make you fall off to sleep is a myth. The practice will actually stimulate your brain and keep you awake

- A warm, milky drink will soothe and relax you before going to bed

- Blackout curtains in your room will help to keep out distracting lights

- A sleep aid like Good Night's Sleep can help you skip the tossing and turning and move right into blissful REM