Why Sleep is Important for Your Mental Health
Sleep and mental health are closely tied together. Having healthy sleep hygiene can ensure quality sleep that helps both mental and physical health. We live in a fast-paced world filled with stressful situations. Sleep is our body's way of recharging for the next day. Experts recommend that adults should get between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Every person is different, and different people will need varying amounts of sleep.
Sleep and The Brain
Our quality of sleep affects the way that our brain functions and stores information. If a person is not getting enough sleep, their focus, memory, and decision-making will be damaged. Lack of sleep can also lead to less productivity because the brain will take longer to process information. In addition to this, some studies have found that not getting enough sleep can lead to dementia.
Sleep and Mood
Lack of sleep can also affect a person’s mood. This is because not getting enough sleep can lead to more stress and an overall negative outlook. If someone is not getting enough sleep, they may be less efficient in managing the stressors in their life. When a person is lacking sleep, they may be more irritable, which could lead to a negative life outlook. When someone has a negative outlook, their mood will also likely suffer. In addition to this, not getting enough sleep can lead to serious mental health issues such as depression. Depression and sleep are closely connected, and both depend on each other.
Sleep and Emotions
When a person isn’t getting enough sleep, they may have a difficult time managing their emotions. The National Institute of Health found that the emotional centers of a person’s brain that are lacking sleep are 60% more reactive than someone who is getting enough sleep. This doesn’t mean that people getting enough sleep will not experience emotions, but they will likely have an easier time regulating them.
Sleep and Physical Health
Quality sleep is a way for your body to rest, which will improve your overall well-being. Getting enough rest can keep our bodies strong and functioning to the best of their ability. However, poor sleep can lead to an increased risk for health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
Tips for Healthy Sleep Hygiene
Sleep hygiene is a set of habits that a person creates to improve their sleep. Having healthy sleep hygiene can help to decrease the negative effects of lack of sleep that we mentioned above.
- Create a nighttime routine that includes going to sleep around the same time every day.
- Limit the amount of caffeine you have after a certain time of day.
- Limit napping during the day. When a person naps throughout the day, this can disrupt their body’s internal clock and can lead to disturbances in sleep at night.
- Try practicing mindfulness before bed. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment without judging our thoughts. Partaking in mindfulness meditations may help calm a person’s mind and body, which will allow them to fall asleep earlier.
References
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/lack-sleep-disrupts-brains-emotional-controls
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation/health-effects
https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-hygiene
https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/
Keywords: sleep, mental health, depression, mindfulness