The Importance of Sleeping Well

Sleep is often given the least priority in our day-to-day hectic lifestyle. While we juggle between family, household chores, and official deadlines, little do we realize the important role of sleep in our daily functioning and how sleep deprivation can affect us, both physically and mentally. It, therefore, goes without saying that a good sleep is very essential for our overall good health and well-being.

The Goodness of Sleep

A good night's sleep or a midday nap can benefit us more than we think.

· A good sleep increases memory and learning ability. A process called memory consolidation happens at sleep. This is the process through which a newly acquired knowledge or skill gets registered into one's memory. Studies have revealed that people who have had enough sleep performed better on memory tasks than others. A good sleep also increases concentration and helps one think faster. It also clears the memory of unneeded or unimportant experiences. With clarity of thought, one's decision making skills also get better.

· Several important body processes occur during sleep. Studies have revealed that there is increased production of body cells and decreased breakdown of protein while sleeping. Sleep also induces the release of growth hormones. These hormones boost growth in children and muscles in young adults. Hormones that aid in maturation and reproductive processes are also released during sleep. A good sleep repairs the body cells from damages caused by stress and UV rays.

How Sleep Deprivation Can Affect You

1. Lack of sleep alters immune function. It reduces the body's ability to ward off infections. Hence, it makes you more prone to various diseases.

2. Sleep deprivation can affect heart health. Insufficient sleep causes high blood pressure, release of stress hormones, and irregular heart beat. These can, in turn, trigger a host of heart problems, including heart attack.

3. Children who sleep less can have troubles with hyperactivity and decreased attention. This directly impacts their performance in school.

4. Irritability, moodiness, and lack of concentration are other outcomes of sleep deprivation.

5. Lack of sleep affects your biological clock (or circadian rhythm). This internal body clock makes us sleep during the night and keeps us awake during the day. A disturbance in the circadian rhythm can cause sleep disorders like inability to fall asleep and stay asleep during the night. This results in extreme drowsiness during the day and can cause road accidents while driving. It also impacts one's performance at work.

6. Reduced sleep leads to increased appetite, and this eventually results in weight gain.

7. Chronic sleep debt can cause anxiety and push a person into depression.

Considering the above factors, it is quite evident that sleep plays a major role in our day-today functioning. Therefore, it is essential that we establish a good sleep routine and do all that is required to get a good night's sleep.