28/02/2024
Getting your zzzzz’s is so important for your brain - and overall - health 😴😴😴
Sleep is a catch-all that benefits your physical, mental and emotional health. When you’re sleeping, your body has the chance to rest and recover — and these restorative properties even occur on a cellular level. Some major benefits of sleep include:
-Boosting your immune system.
-Strengthening your emotional processing.
-Improving your mood and decreasing stress.
-Improving memory function.
-Improving cellular growth.
-Repairing tissue and muscle recovery.
-Increasing productivity.
-Improving exercise performance.
Even losing out on one or two hours of sleep can impact your mood and overall health. So how do you know if you’re not getting enough sleep or if your grogginess from the night before is a one-time fluke? Here are some common signs and symptoms of sleep deprivation you should look out for:
-Struggling to stay awake when inactive (like when watching TV).
-Difficulty concentrating.
-Forgetfulness.
-Slowness in responding to others.
-Loss of motivation.
-Increase in moodiness or temper.
-Yawning constantly.
-Day-long periods of drowsiness.
-Needing multiple power naps (sleeping in short periods).
-You’re tired all the time.
It’s important to keep an eye on these symptoms, especially if they occur daily or weekly, as shortchanging your sleep long-term can lead to a host of long-term problems, including:
-Diabetes.
-Depression.
-Heart problems.
-High blood pressure.
-Lowered immunity.
-Obesity.
So, exactly how much do you need for your age? See below:
0-3 months - 14-17 hours.
4-12 months - 12-16 hours.
1-2 years - 11-14 hours.
3-5 years - 10-13 hours.
6-12 years - 9-12 hours.
13-18 years - 8-10 hours.
19-64 years - 7-9 hours.
65+ years - 7-8 hours.
Sweet dreams!
