How often do you fight sleep to get something done? Have you ever heard someone say, “I can sleep when I’m dead, I need to get this done NOW!?” I am guilty of uttering those words in the past. Although it is true that our bodies will be at rest for more years than we will be alive, we must treat our sleep habits as equal to a healthy diet.
I am sure you have experienced fatigue in the middle of the day and wished you had gone to bed at 10 pm the night before instead of 3 am the next day. Our sleep time is like putting money in the stock market or a slot machine. You can allow 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night and invest in the restoration and repair of your body. To increase the potential for good health and longevity. Or, you can run on borrowed time like a high-interest credit card and become sleep-deprived. Once our sleep time is spent, it is a challenge but not impossible for our bodies to recover.
If you are unable to get enough sleep, a power nap can be a good idea when you may be able to fit a nap in. But before you decide to schedule a nap in your busy day, try maximizing your time each day. You may be taking time away from your sleep schedule by wasting it somewhere else.
Try creating a schedule with two titles for the day, week, or month. One schedule should be titled “Urgent.” The other should be titled “Soon.” The “Urgent” list can be done within the week. The “Soon” list should be done within 2 to 3 weeks. The most important thing that should be on your list is the amount of time you plan to sleep. Sleep should be considered an investment like money in the bank but for your body.
5 Ways Sleep Increases Energy Levels
1. Restoration and repair. Our bodies use the food we eat as fuel. It provides the nutrients necessary to sustain our lives. Sleep provides the body the opportunity to restore and repair itself. This means that rest is an essential process that our bodies require in order to heal.
2. Maintaining Good Cognitive Abilities. Sleep increases your ability to engage in daily functions with sharp and precise responses without questioning yourself. Your memory is heightened when you sleep better.
3. Energy Levels Increase. You feel less tired, energized, and able to complete tasks without having to take many rest breaks.
4. Mood Energizer. You become less likely to engage in an argument with someone. Road rage incidences have increased in the last decade. This could be the result of people who are over-caffeinated and sleep-deprived. Removing yourself from a potential argument is easier when you are able to think better after a good night's sleep.
5. Decrease Stress Levels. When you sleep, your blood pressure decreases. This reduces the potential for a stroke or heart attack. The heart is able to restore itself, rejuvenating the blood vessels.
Patricia Pointer
Certified Massage Therapist
COTA
Wellness Coach
Consultant
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