Sleep has become an increasingly loved part of everyone’s life. No matter how late we stay up, we are always fighting for those few extra minutes every morning. However, with all of this craze about sleep, it is important to know what benefits sleep has for the body and what a detriment a lack of sleep can be for your well being.
According to a 2015 study by Dagmara et al., Americans have been staying up later over the years while setting alarms for earlier times in the morning. This led to a significant increase in sleep disturbances among all American. Sleep disturbances are anything that disrupts of inhibits sleep. So what does this mean for the average American?
Well, according to various studies on the topic, a lack of sleep can mean an increase in symptoms of depression, worse physical and cognitive performance, lower GPA and less physical growth. Although most people aren’t thinking about all these consequences when they decide to stay up an extra hour or two, these outcomes can have long lasing effects on a person’s future. So, what can we do to change our sleep habits?
Various other studies have implemented mindfulness exercises and meditations which yielded significant results. It is suggested that one reduces stress in their everyday life by being aware of themselves and the world around them. This can help individuals prepare for the week ahead of them and sort out any cognitive strains that have been plaguing their mind. Okay, meditation. That’s easy, but what are the benefits of good sleep?
Good Question. Having the recommended amount of sleep has been shown to have great effects on the body and mind, including: greater life satisfaction, better academic performance, lower blood pressure, increase physical growth, and many more. By maintaining a good sleep schedule, you are not only doing yourself a favor, but you are doing your future a favor.
Although people are always praising their beds for how comfortable they are, the quality and quantity of sleep across America has been decreasing. This makes it our responsibility to take care of our minds and our bodies by improving our sleep schedule. Do yourself a favor and go to sleep.
Those are my Thoughts for Food.
Sources:
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Thoughts for Food 