3 Reasons to Focus on Better Sleep for Better Health
By Genevieve Cunningham
Sleep is a serious aspect of our health with serious consequences. We don't think of it in a serious way most of the time, but when sleep suffers, everything about our health suffers too. We need quality sleep in order to function at our best. But for those who often skip sleep and don't seem to feel the consequences, the question of why probably comes up often in their minds. If there aren't any consequences, why worry with more sleep? If you don't think that sleep (or the lack thereof) is affecting your life, take a look at these three reasons why you should start focusing on improving your sleep tonight.
Poor Sleep Makes It Hard to Focus
When we don't get enough sleep, we lose focus. But if you've been going without sleep for a long period of time, then you may not even realize that your focus has diminished. Because it's always diminished. If you put a little thought into improving your sleep, you may suddenly notice that focusing is easier. You may be able to pay attention a bit easier. If you suspect that your focus is suffering due to lack of sleep, improve your habits and see if your focus returns.
Poor Sleep Weakens the Immune System
You keep getting headaches. Your nose won't stop running. You seem to catch every bug that goes through the office. If this is happening to you, a lack of sleep may be to blame. Our bodies are both rested and strengthened while we sleep. Without sleep, they can't recuperate. And without recuperation, your body can't function at its best. This might affect the immune system, which is why you may find yourself either sick or rundown all the time. If you're sick more often than you'd like to admit, improve your sleep, and this side effect may go away.
Poor Sleep Makes You Moody
We all know this one. When we're tired, we're grumpy. We're irritable. Our moods swing. If you want your moods to be more stable, then you have to get more rest. If you want to stop snapping at people, you need to make sure you slept well the night before. This is a very cause-and-effect situation, and if we fix the cause, we'll stop the effects in their tracks.
It's so important to get good sleep. We might not be able to sleep a full eight hours every night, but if we're diligent about our nighttime habits, then we may be able to significantly improve our quality of sleep. Focus on your sleeping habits, and watch everything else in your life improve as well.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in San Jose, Calif.