Sleep occupies roughly a third of our lives. However, sleep is often neglected but it is not just an inactive phase of our everyday life. Rather the opposite. Sleep is crucial for our health, and here we’ve gathered all the sleep benefits for health. From what is considered to be a healthy sleep to the benefits of early sleep.
What is normal sleep?
As you sleep, your body balances and regulates vital systems, from lowering the risk of heart diseases to boosting your mood. Skimping on shut-eye deprives you of many good sleep benefits that are essential to your body and mind.
There are still discussions about what is good sleep. The most popular is that 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep is considered good for adults. Keeping to a sleep schedule, going to bed when you feel sleepy and waking without struggle are key markers of healthy sleep. Having such feelings means you get all the benefits of a sound sleep.
What are the benefits of getting enough sleep?
There are various health benefits of getting enough sleep.
- Sleep is crucial for your brain. If you regularly skimp on shut-eye, your memory and concentration skills cease to function correctly.
- Sleep and sports activities. Getting enough sleep benefits your physical performance. Sport requires a sufficient amount of energy. Peaceful slumber makes you feel more alert and energized.
- Sleep and diet. It’s more likely that you will eat fewer calories after a restful night. If you are well-rested, you don’t want to eat many slices of pizza because your appetite-regulating hormones are not disrupted.
- Sleep and appearance. It’s no wonder that Sleeping Beauty looked so good. Have you spotted dark circles under her eyes, hanging eyelids or just constant yawning? An adequate amount of sleep helps your skin to refresh and glow.
- Sleeping more is doubtlessly a key to a good mood since you feel refreshed and fully charged.
As you now know what the benefits of sleep are, let’s figure out if sleeping late or early makes any significant difference.
Health benefits of sleeping early
Benjamin Franklin once said: “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”. And he made the right point. Early sleep is connected with melatonin production. Usually, it occurs around 9pm so falling asleep from 10-11pm is considered an early sleep.
Despite the amount of sleep, hitting the sack late can badly affect your brain’s most vital functions. Going to bed early improves your memory and reaction skills.
Another benefit of early sleep is productivity. Lack of REM sleep, the phase when you dream, can stand in the way of your creative-thinking abilities. Early sleepers are less likely to feel drowsiness and fatigued, and tend to make fewer efforts to get up in the morning.
Early sleeping benefits also include weight loss. People who stay up late tend to nibble snacks during their sleeping time. Getting up early can make your daily commute safer as well. Getting behind the wheel while your mind is clear and bright, lowers the risk of road accidents.
Health benefits of sleeping early are worth your attention. Set a sleep schedule, monitor your sleep with Goodsomnia Lab, change your lifestyle for the sake of your mood and energy to benefit from a better quality of life.
