The Importance of Getting Enough Sleep
Research shows that we spend more than 1/3 of our lives sleeping. Most of us know that sleep is a natural bodily process that we all need in order to survive. However, in our busy, career-oriented culture, it is highly undervalued. Spending what we perceive to be “too much” time in bed (more than 6 or 7 hours) is often considered to be a LUXURY.
Truth? Sleep is an ESSENTIAL part of a healthy lifestyle. I’d even venture to say that getting lots of sleep is the MOST important habit you can take on if you want to be healthy and happy long term.
The Consequences of Under-Sleeping
Unfortunately, most of us aren’t getting enough sleep. The average U.S. adult gets about 6 hours of shuteye per night or less. Researchers in the sleep field highly recommend you get AT LEAST 7-9 hours of sleep per night, otherwise you put yourself at risk for sleep deprivation. Over time, this will lead to a slew of mental, physical, and emotional issues. Lack of sleep can:
- Dampen your immune system
- Damage your brain
- Make your body susceptible to digestive disorders
- Increase your cravings for foods that are high in sugar and devoid of nutrients.
- Cause irritability and mood swings
- Hamper your ability to think clearly
- Lead to the development of chronic disease.
But don’t take my word for it. Professor Matthew Walker from Berkley has dedicated his professional life to studying sleep and literally wrote the book on it! Watch the video to see what he has to say:
The Benefits of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Okay. So now you know the BAD. Let’s talk about the GOOD. The natural benefits of sleep are endless. This video outlines a few you may want to make note of. It also gives you a handy way of calculating the amount of sleep you need each night. Have a look!
Lesson Learned: Prioritize Sleep
It’s difficult to truly emphasize the immense, positive impact that SLEEPING MORE can have on your body, mind, and spirit. In fact, when I bring this up to clients, it is the one habit that they are least likely to take seriously. But here’s the thing:
If you’re serious about your health and well-being, sleep is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself.
Coach Nadia
So here’s what, I want you to do. Using the method in the “Importance and Benefits of Sleep” video, calculate how much sleep your body needs per night. Then, write and submit it down below.
Well, that’s it for today. Remember that this week is all about LEARNING, so take the time to really understand the information on this page and reflect on how it may apply to your life. We’ll discuss it more during our live chat this week. Click on the check boxes below to complete your lesson.