How Adequate Rest Improves Overall Health
By Genevieve Cunningham
Getting good rest is no joke. As adults, it's easy to forget what good rest really is. We spend so much time in a sleep-deprived state. But out of necessity, we trudge through the daily grind anyway. Unfortunately, this constant battle between exhaustion and adequate rest is doing a number on our health! If you haven't taken the plunge and made good sleep a priority in your life yet, take a look at how doing so may improve your overall health moving forward.
It Creates Healing Time
Your body heals so much faster when it's able to rest. Without rest, you're expending every piece of energy you have, and that means there's nothing left for natural healing to take place. Make sure you're getting rest so that you can heal from injury and illness when it's needed. But you should also get adequate rest so that you can heal from smaller, less noticeable ailments on a daily basis. Your body's natural healing process is extremely important, and it can only work efficiently if you give your body the rest required to make that happen.
It Gives You More Energy
This one is probably really obvious, but it's worth mentioning nonetheless. When we get good rest, we have more energy. That means more energy for exercise, for productivity at work, for family time, and for your own personal time. It means that each day is a little easier to get through. It means less generalized fatigue. If you often feel tired and rundown, improving your sleep and getting more rest on a regular basis is the first step toward healthier living.
It Improves Mental Well-Being
A lack of sleep is heavily linked to mental health woes. Our brains need sleep just as bad as our bodies need it. When we sleep, our brains are allowed to rest and recuperate. Our brains are able to kind of shut down. When we don't get rest, our brains keep going and going and going. And for obvious reasons, this is incredibly draining. It takes all of our mental energy, and as a result, we don't have enough energy to deal with daily life stressors or the typical problems of life. If you want to stay mentally healthy, good sleep is crucial. Both body and mind depend on your ability to wind down and rest when you need it.
It's time to make rest a priority in your life. It's way past time! Do what needs to be done to improve this aspect of your health and life. Set a bedtime and stick with it. Stop browsing your phone all night. Stop binge watching Netflix. Instead, have a hot shower, drink some hot tea, and go to bed! As your rest improves, you'll likely find your health as a whole improve and you'll be feeling more like yourself in no time at all.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Escondido, Calif.