A busy schedule may affect a good night’s sleep, but it’s important that you try to maintain an eight-hour sleep cycle each night. From a stronger immune system to better hormone control, there are several main benefits of sleep for your body to know about, so be sure to give your body the rest it needs every night.
Regulated Hormones
You may not realize it, but there’s more to sleep than just dreaming and restfulness. When you sleep, there’s more at work internally than you may know: sleep is one of the main regulators of your body’s hormones. As you sleep, your body regulates certain hormones, such as ghrelin, which controls appetite. Additionally, sleep also affects the hormones responsible for anxiousness, happiness, and productivity. Therefore, losing sleep can make you more anxious and hungry, and it can also affect your decision-making. Hormones can also affect your mood and emotions.
Increased Productivity
Getting enough sleep each night also makes you more productive. Improper sleep can seriously affect your performance at work or school the following day. Sleep corresponds to improved concentration, stronger cognitive function, and decision making. Relying on a cup of coffee to perk up can be tempting, but sleeping for eight hours each night will leave you feeling naturally awake. Don’t forget to consider any of these morning habits to start a productive day: for instance, make your bed, shower, and get ready for the day right after you wake up.
Healthier Cardiovascular and Immune Systems
The other main benefits of sleep for your body are healthier heart and immune systems. Sleeping a full night improves your immune cells to help you fight off sickness. Proper sleep also improves vaccines’ effectiveness, which further increases your immunity to serious illnesses or diseases. Not to mention, sleep strengthens your heart. One of the leading fatal diseases in the US is heart disease, which causes high blood pressure and heart attacks. Getting a full night’s sleep strengthens your cardiovascular system to fight this disease and give you a healthier body overall.
