Why Your Sleep Quality is Impacting Your Life
How many hours of sleep did you get last night?
While there is much debate on the exact number of sleep hours we need, researchers can agree that at least 7 hours each night can help us to avoid health issues. Though the quality of those hours is much more important than the number of hours themselves.
Believe it or not, your sleep quality is impacting your life. Here’s why.
The Importance of Quality Sleep
Sleep is the time when your body works hard to recover from everything it encountered throughout the day. And getting good quality sleep gives it time to do everything it needs to do, like to restore energy, repair cells, release hormones and proteins, and more. The body slows down while you sleep, but the processes of recovery that it goes through are necessary for you to feel rejuvenated tomorrow.
Without getting enough good, quality sleep, you put yourself at risk for some mighty big health problems down the road, such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and more.
More immediately, a lack of good sleep can cause you issues getting through your daily tasks. It can make your body feel sluggish and your mind feel as though it has checked out. Making it through a healthy routine, including physical activity and social time with friends, can seem like too much of a chore.
Little by little, this lack of quality sleep will cause your quality of life to decline.
Signs of Poor Sleep Quality
How do you know your sleep quality is poor? After all, it is possible to sleep all through the night and still have poor sleep quality. So what do you do? How can you tell?
Waking up and still feeling tired is a good sign that something is off. There are more signs, too, including:
Feeling sleepy during the daytime
Eyes that are puffy, dark, surrounded by redness, or bags
General fatigue throughout the day
Mood swings and irritability
Depression
Waking up to use the bathroom a lot through the night
Trouble falling asleep at night
Waking up gasping or choking for air (this could be a sign of sleep apnea)
Increased hunger/weight gain
Drinking more and more caffeine
Skin breakouts
Difficulty focusing, poor memory
If you experience any of these, it may be time to make changes to your routine so that you can implement better sleep.
Improve Your Sleep Quality
Because your sleep quality has a powerful impact on your overall quality of life, it is important to make improvements. That way you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face each new day.
Try implementing a few of these tips:
- Maintain a sleep schedule. Going to sleep and waking at the same time every single day can help to regulate your body. It will fall into a natural sleep-wake cycle.
- Create a sleep-welcoming space. Cool, dark, quiet spaces are the best way to encourage peaceful sleep. However, a comfortable bed is essential, too.
- Stop using electronics before bed. Cell phones, tablets, and laptops should be avoided two hours prior to your bedtime as they have been shown to interfere with your sleep.
- Reduce your stress. When you go to bed carrying a lot of heavy stressors, it can be tough to fall asleep – and stay asleep. Try meditation or breathing exercises to relax your mind and body before you turn the lights out.
- Move your body. Believe it or not, exercising regularly has a positive impact on your sleep quality. Just be sure to avoid exercising before bed.
- Ditch the caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. While you definitely want to avoid them before bed, avoiding them altogether can improve your sleep quality as they will disturb a good night’s sleep.
Nourish Your Body at Longevity Herbs
Giving your body what it needs can help it feel better – and promote a healthy balance within. This can also be a beneficial contribution to your sleep quality and overall quality of life.
Contact us today to learn more about healing and nourishing your body, as well as helping it to recover while you sleep.
Shop online at Longevity Herbs.
