If you've ever awakened from a power nap feeling refreshed and ready
to take on the rest of the day, you know how good sleeping can make you
feel. But have you ever wondered exactly why your body naturally gets
tired and urges you to hit the hay ?
Your body doesn 't simply "shut down" as soon as you fall asleep . In fact ,
it 's hard at work helping every mental and physical aspect of you
function properly. No wonder the day after a bad night 's sleep seems so
terrible — you didn 't get to properly recharge !
From memory , to mood , to heart health , to your immune system and
metabolism, there's pretty much nothing that sleep doesn 't benefit. Just
think of how irritable you can be after getting fewer hours of sleep than
you're used to . Or how easy it is to get sick when you haven 't been
getting enough shut- eye .
As if that weren ' t enough reason to jump into bed a little earlier
tonight, consider the fact that a lack of sleep can negatively affect
your overall physical well- being . People who don 't sleep enough are more
prone to developing issues like obesity, heart disease and infections — all
of which can escalate into bigger problems .
While the amount of sleep necessary for proper functioning varies for
each individual , most people should aim for seven to eight hours a night .
To make sure that you're getting this amount , avoid factors that can
disrupt your snooze session , like drinking caffeinated or alcoholic
beverages, vigorously exercising , arguing with a partner or using
electronics during the couple of hours before bedtime . You may also want
to avoid large or spicy meals and foods containing caffeine (think
chocolate ) near bedtime .
Instead, establish a soothing routine like taking a bath or doing some
relaxation exercises , like meditation or gentle yoga .
Next time you're feeling a bit under the weather, it could simply be
because you didn 't get enough sleep the night before .
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