Sleep is the time when your body and mind are repaired, reordered and rejuvenated for the next day. You need the right amount of sleep so your brain can function properly, and to keep your body healthy. “When kids are going to bed very late or sleeping on an irregular schedule, they may also be skipping meals, eating at irregular times, or be less likely to exercise during the day,” says Stacey Simon, a pediatric sleep psychologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children’s Hospital Colorado.
7 NEGATIVE EFFECTS from lack of sleep:
- Lack of Sleep Slows Down Your Mind
People who regularly do not get enough sleep, particularly when they’re young, could be negatively affecting their intelligence levels and overall mental development. Chronic lack of sleep can even affect the structure of the brain.
- Higher Risk of Accidents
Not getting enough sleep is associated with an increased risk of injuries, because your alertness is lowered and your reaction times are slower. Being tired is a form of impairment when driving, just like driving drunk.
- Heart Disease and Diabetes
High blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes have all been linked to lack of sleep. Children who don’t get enough sleep may be more likely to develop diabetes than kids who typically get enough sleep.
- Missing out on Sleep Can Make You Fat
Insufficient sleep can affect levels of hormones that control appetite, making kids hungrier and increasing cravings for sweet and salty snacks. Obesity and elevated blood sugar are risk factors for diabetes.
- Insomnia Ages You
Teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Not only do we not look our best after a very late night, but a lack of sleep will leave you feeling weak, tired, and cranky. Chronic sleeplessness can have long-term aging affects as well.
- Sleeplessness Affects Memory
Even just one night of insufficient sleep can have an impact on your memory, concentration, and problem solving capabilities the next day. So it should only be a rare occasion when you sacrifice a good night’s sleep to pull an all-nighter.
- Depression and Sleep
Getting less than eight hours sleep a night has been linked to anxiety and depression. Insomnia is also associated with other mental illnesses.
7 POSITIVE EFFECTS of getting enough sleep:
- More Alertness and Energy
Sleep is important for students and workers because waking up properly rested will greatly increase your alertness, attention span, and ability to concentrate.
- Less Stress
Getting enough rest will make it easier to deal with the daily stresses in your life, even if it means adopting some strange sleeping habits.
- Greater Immunity and Less Disease
Sleep strengthens your immune system to help fight germs, and getting extra rest can help you recover from illnesses more quickly.
- Maintenance and Body Repair
Sleep is important for healing cellular wear and tear. A full night’s sleep recharges your batteries and helps keep your body running smoothly and efficiently.
- Sleep Makes You Smarter
Your performance on tests or complex work projects will improve when your brain is well rested, which means a good night’s sleep is important before a big test day.
- Weight Loss and Rest
Getting enough sleep helps keep our appetite in check. Each additional hour of sleep that kids get at night is associated with a lower body weight, more lean muscle mass, and less accumulation of sugars in the blood.
- Sleep Improves Happiness
Regularly getting an adequate amount of sleep can dramatically improve the quality of your life by helping you to feel better, healthier, and happier.
Helen Sanders over at HealthAmbition.com elaborates on each of these topics and explains everything you need to know about why sleep is important to the way you look, the way you feel, and to staying healthy and alive. Here is the link:
https://www.healthambition.com/why-is-sleep-so-important
I believe my sleep behaviors are pretty healthy. I go to bed around the same time every night, fall asleep fast, and get a solid 7-8 hours of sleep. I’m usually not groggy in the mornings. But I need to stop staying up so late on the weekends. I keep staying up 2-3 hours later than I do during the week, and it makes me feel like garbage.