by Beth Lee Schlendorf
It’s that time of year again. What are your New Year’s resolutions? Do you plan on losing weight, exercising more, or are you planning a new career move? Shhhh, I have a secret that will help you stick to and achieve your New Year’s resolutions this year. It’s easy, and this time you can be lazy about it; just improve the quality of your sleep each night. Good sleep significantly impacts your physical and mental health. An average adult needs a solid seven to eight hours of sleep a night. If quality sleep is not on your New Year’s resolution list, you may decide to add it once you read the benefits that good sleep can have on your life:
1. Lose weight – Studies show that sleep loss is a major contributor to weight gain. In fact, short sleep duration is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity. In one recent study, children and adults with short sleep duration were 89 percent and 55 percent more likely to become obese, respectively. On the contrary, studies show those individuals that receive sufficient sleep eat less calories and better calories.
2. Perform better at work – When you go to sleep each night, your brain works similar to a computer. It cleans your memory, reorganizes file, and provides better mental clarity, such as cognition, concentration, productivity and performance. A recent study on medical interns shows that they committed 36 percent more serious medical errors than those that were allowed to have longer sleep patterns.
3. Maximize athletic performance – A recent study of athletes showed improved speed, reaction times, mental agility and accuracy the longer they slept. If you want to improve your performance at the gym, make sure you receive the right amount of sleep.
4. Lessen your risk of heart problems – If you sleep less than seven to eight hours each night, you significantly increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Likewise, if you try to overcompensate with more sleep, studies show similar results that are not good. So, stick to the seven to eight hours.
5. Improve your mental health – Numerous studies show that those with less sleep are more susceptible to depression and other mental health issues. Yet again, studies show that those battling mental illness complain about sleep quality. Poor sleep quality has also been associated with higher rates of suicide. A good night’s rest helps you avoid frustration, makes you happier and minimizes stress.
Since sleep impacts our life so significantly, be a little lazy this year and achieve all those New Year’s resolutions. Just make sure that you add quality sleep to the top of your list.
Source: Beth Lee Schlendorf is the owner of Bliss Sleep Center. For more information, visit BlissSleepCenter.com.
