In our busy existence with activities that go on day and night, many people don’t get a good night’s sleep. It was Benjamin Franklin, one of the “founding fathers” who knows America, who said “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man, healthy, wealthy and wise”. And there’s certainly a lot of truth in this. It is even more important to look in that context at how much sleep you get, which plays a significant role in your health. There are many advantages to a good night’s sleep! Why getting enough sleep is important you learn in this article… and good sleep is achievable for everyone. You are in control.
What makes sleep important?
A good night’s sleep is important for restoring your body so that you can get back to it fresh the next day. But there are many more benefits to sleeping well. It makes you much better in life; your mood is improved, more is taken out of your day, and drastically improves your recovery after fitness and health. We’re going to show you all the benefits and why sleep is important to everyone, from young to old… for a more active life!
How many hours of “good sleep” do you need?
It is important that in addition to sufficient hours of sleep, you also take a good sleep. By this, we mean that you do not wake up every oat blow so that you never really get a deep sleep. As you probably know, your sleep has several stages and the usually 5 sleep cycles of an average of 90 minutes determine the course of your sleep. Hence the recommended 7 to 8 hours (7.5 hours to be exact) recommended sleep that you need [1].
But this does not apply to everyone, because although it is the ideal gauge for most people … there are also people who have enough of 5 hours. In this group, some processes are faster, so only 5 hours of sleep can be important. However, the majority of people really do need those 7 to 8 hours. You can test this by keeping track of your sleep rhythm for a few weeks.
Go to bed at the same times and set your alarm clock at 7.5 hours later. Do you wake up rested every time before your alarm goes off? Then chances are you’ll have enough sleep. Are you still exhausted? You probably need a good 8 hours of sleep.
The 10 benefits of a good night’s sleep
Now that you know why sleep is important and how much good sleep you need, we’re also going to show you the benefits. Are you reading along?
1. The quality of your sleep improves
To recover optimally and wake up adequately rested, it is important to get a good night’s sleep. With a lack of sleep, you are less likely to go through all the sleep cycles, which does not benefit your health. However, do you get a good night’s sleep and get the night’s sleep you deserve? Then you will definitely notice this and take advantage of it.
2. Feel happier and more positive
A good night’s sleep can be the key to more happiness in your life! People who go into bed a little earlier tend to get up earlier. As a result, sunlight can be enjoyed longer the next day. This, of course, has a positive effect.
When you are exposed to sunlight for longer, more of the body’s hormone serotonin will also be released by the brain. This can boost your self-confidence (feeling calm), mood, focus and even sexual activity. Also, sunlight is a source of vitamin D.
Research has also shown that people in England find a good night’s sleep the key to a happier life [2]. Even above a good sex life and some other factors. Now, of course, this is not the case for everyone, and it will certainly vary from country to country. But it does indicate that sleep is considered important and that good sleep is high on the list of many people.
Sleep quality is, therefore, a high priority for well-being in a lot of people. It ensures that people are happy, more stable in life and experience an improved mindset.
3. It gives you more energy
There’s no denying that when you’ve had a good night’s sleep, you’ll have a lot more energy the next day. You’re wide awake and ready to go. On the other hand, when you have not slept well, you will experience a feeling of exhaustion and less energy than usual. But what’s the real reason behind this?
More than enough studies show that recovery functions, e.g., muscle mass growth, tissue repair, and the release of growth hormones occur during your sleep.
Sleeping well ensures that your body can fully recover from what you consume during the day. This will wake you up to fresh, fruity and fully charged. It shows once again that sleep is important and a good night’s sleep must, therefore, be taken seriously.
4. More sex drive
More than enough people regularly have sex and give it a fat 10, but unfortunately, a lot doesn’t. The consistency of great sex life and good sleep is greater than you think. And that makes perfect sense.
When you are well equipped, you are playful, active, energetic, and you feel much more in the mood for sex. If you haven’t had such a good night’s sleep, you’re often too exhausted for a game of rollebollen. The best part about the story is that just a bit earlier diving into bed together (for some exciting action) makes you sleep better afterwards. This has to do with several factors, including the release of hormones.
As a result, you will be more frequently better equipped and more likely to have sex, which of course also has a positive effect on your health and life.
5. Strengthens your immune system
A good night’s sleep and not going to sleep late are essential to make yourself feel good and stay healthy. Recent studies show a clear link between good sleep and a strong immune system.
People who do not get good and/or insufficient sleep typically have a less good immune system than people who do sleep well. Although 7 to 8 hours of sleep is important for most people, this may also be slightly less for certain groups. You must get enough rest for yourself, to boost your immune system.
So pay attention to the time you go to sleep, especially when you have to get out of the feathers early the next day. It also turns out that your body processes a lot of waste after 10:00 p.m. And between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., the immune system recharges itself. For most people, it is therefore recommended to look up the pillow between these hours.
6. Optimal focus and fewer errors
When you have slept well and wake up rested, your focus is also optimal. This will help you to implement better everything you do throughout the day, including important tasks. However, people who do not get enough sleep and appear exhausted at work are more likely to make mistakes. Depending on the work you do, these may have small or large consequences. Another sign that good sleep is important.
Reports from the American Automobile Association (AAA) show that 1 out of 6 fatal traffic accidents and 1 out of 8 collisions in which drivers and co-drivers end up in hospital are caused by drowsy driving.
Another reliable study has shown that getting insufficient sleep structurally has the same effects as alcohol in several aspects. So make sure you get enough sleep, and a structural shortage of them doesn’t sneak in. It improves your focus but also prevents errors, which in some cases can lead to catastrophic events.
7. Increases your health
You now know that sleeping well already has many benefits, but there are even more for your health. You should think about regulating your blood sugar, reducing or preventing stress, but also, e.g. beautiful skin.
So a beauty sleep isn’t, but really. When you enter the third or fourth stage of your sleep, your body creates growth hormone (HGH), which is often called the body’s own anti-ageing hormone … according to Cheryl Myers, RN (integrative medicine and natural beauty expert).
Furthermore, you can also say that sleep is important for a healthy weight. Several studies, including one from Stanford University, have shown that more (and better) sleep reduced obesity [5]. Too few hours of sleep more often results in a higher BMI (Body Mass Index) and works overweight and even obesity, along with an increased risk of health complications in hand.
Even if you don’t get enough sleep, the hormones that affect your appetite change. Your levels of leptin, hormones that let you know you’ve eaten enough, are dropping. At the same time, your levels of grehline, which increase your appetite, increase.
8. You are more attractive
There are many reasons why you feel more attractive, and that you are to others when getting enough sleep.
First of all, you will shine more and have much more energy; you will see this in all kinds of ways in your doing and acting. Furthermore, you are more likely to flirt, make small talk and playfully go through life.
Furthermore, the beauty benefits here also have a finger in the porridge. So it’s good for your skin, but it also restores your body in many other ways that make you look fresh and fruity at your Easter best!
9. More productive during the day
That good sleep is important is also reflected in productivity during the day. You have more energy, an optimal focus, feel happier, with increased pleasure will do all your daily tasks and get more out of your life.
Of course, you can also pay attention to how many hours of sleep you get and when you do this. Although we live in an (almost) 24-hour society, everything often starts early in the morning already. It’s also not surprising that most people go to bed early and get up early to pick the day.
It seems to be the case that morning; people have all the cards in their hands. They are more likely to get higher grades in school, end up in better schools, which increases the chances of a better job, more success or a glittering career. Even snapping an owl (powernap) at work can, in some cases, lead to more productivity. Count out your winnings by not going too late and getting a good night’s sleep.
10. An increase in your sports performance
Getting a good night’s sleep also has a big effect on your sports performance. Especially for bodybuilders, athletes, team athletes or other active people, this is an important part of the recovery.
Sports is an intensive activity, all the more reason to recover well to fight even harder next time. In many cases, of course, this is also about muscle mass and tissue that has been affected and will need to be repaired (larger).
But good sleep also boosts your performance from speed (athletes are more alert and experience faster reaction times) to better coordination. For example, sleep is also important for processing learning processes during the day. Use the 7 to 8-hour measure (in some cases a little less) for optimal recovery in sports performance.
Are you ready for a good night’s sleep?
You are now aware that good sleep is important… the next step should be to improve this in your own lifestyle, good luck!
