Nigh owl? Overworked employee? Cramming student? Stressed family member? Although you’re working hard and pushing your body and brain to the max, you can never get back the sleep you have missed out on – and here you’ll learn why that is not a good thing. I know it’s hard to get enough rest, but sleep is more important that we may think.
Lack of sleep causes parts of your brain to slow or shut down completely. Your body without sleep craves salty, fatty foods and even impairs you to the point that you show symptoms of being legally drunk. If you are looking to lose weight, sleep is key – obesity rates increase with less sleep.
It is a challenging balance since many people – particularly students and entrepreneurs – tend to skip sleep whenever they can, to fit more work hours into the day. However, lack of sleep can cause long-term, and sometimes permanent, damage to the body.
The recommended amount is about 7 hours of sleep, to avoid weight gain and other health consequences. Before getting to bed, at least another hour should be spent on turning off distractions and winding down – this means no phones with you at bed time (such a challenge). Once you find the time, setting natural rhythms and schedules will help your sleep become even more effective.
The infographic gives a glimpse of the health risks of not sleeping enough, how your body reacts to this lack of sleep, and most importantly, how to get a better sleep.
