In today’s society, it’s not uncommon to see people push themselves to the absolute limit to ‘get shit done’ and hustle their way to the top. However, it’s also not uncommon to see people completely lose themselves to good health because they’re not making sleep a priority anymore.
Sleep, in itself, is a basic human need, however, as people become busier and more stressed, it seems that sleep has dropped to the bottom of the priority list. So, you ask yourself, how much sleep do you really need? Well, science shows a lot! The sweet spot is between 7 to 9 hours per night, says the National Sleep Foundation.
When you limit your sleep, you are limiting your potential to be productive and reach your goals effectively. This is because sleep is crucial for the brain and body to work to its optimum and without a decent amount of sleep, you can suffer from memory loss, mood changes, concentration issues, weight gain, low sex drive, aging skin, high blood pressure, and weak immune system, to name a few.
Your body needs deep sleep, just as much as it needs water and food, so next time you think about skimping on going to bed at a decent hour because you have mountains of work to do, consider restructuring your work schedule and personal life to include 7 to 9 hours of sleep so you can actually help yourself get more things done.
"You're able to get more done on a good night's sleep, not less."
Dr. Matthew Carter, PhD, Sleep Specialist
So, what are the benefits of getting a decent amount of deep sleep each night? Less irritation, a boost in creativity, increased happiness, memory improvement, reduced stress levels, better concentration, healthy weight maintenance, and lower blood pressure, just to name a few.
Below are some simple and easy ways you can get a better night's sleep and become more productive.