While staying up late to watch movies or scrolling through Facebook and Instagram is fun but the long term effects of sleep deprivation can put your physical and mental health at risk. Not only will you wake up exhausted in the morning but your brain will find it difficult to concentrate during the lectures. Here are five reasons why sleeping early can make you stay healthy.
You can maintain a healthy weight
According to a study, there is a connection between short sleep duration and gaining weight. Scientists say that the more sleep deprived you are, the more you won’t be able to reduce weight. When you suffer from chronic sleep deprivation, you won’t be feeling energized to exercise or eat healthy. Moreover, if you stay up late, you will end up binge-eating unhealthy snacks. Studies show that sleepless nights increase your craving for burgers than green leafy vegetables.
You can decrease your chances of getting sick
One of the most effective ways to avoid falling sick regularly is to sleep on time. Lack of sleep does not only affect your immune system but it also determines how quickly you can recover when you fall sick. When you get adequate sleep, your immune system is strong enough to fight viral or infectious diseases. If you sleep on time and wake up early to eat a healthy breakfast before 8:30 AM, your BMI levels will be controlled.
You can lower your risk for chronic diseases
Other than eating right and exercising, getting sufficient sleep is equally important to lower your risk of developing certain chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, or high blood pressure. When you are sleeping, your body works towards repairing your blood vessels, heart, and brain in order to prevent you from these chronic diseases. If you do not get enough sleep, these organs start deteriorating, leading to major health issues.
You will be more productive
We have all gone through that deadly time when you are not able to concentrate and remember anything during an exam or a presentation because you stayed up late last night. This happens when your cognition gets compromised due to lack of sleep. Not only that, the absence of REM sleep which is essential to stimulate your brain, can affect problem-solving and creative-thinking skills. One research study found that subjects waking up after REM sleep performed 30 percent better than after non-REM sleep.
You might feel positive
The less you sleep, the more depressed you will be. According to a study, people who stay up late at night are more likely to have repetitive negative thinking (RNT) compared to those who sleep early. Researchers claim that reduced sleep duration and disruption are associated with increased pessimistic thoughts. On the other side, psychologists advise maintaining a proper sleep routine which can give you a clear mind to focus on your problems. Isn’t it easier to deal with emotions on a well-rested mind?
Getting enough sleep is one of those things everyone should know and follow to avoid serious health damage. With an adequate amount of 7-8 hours of sleep every night, you can control your weight, prevent chronic diseases, avoid negative thoughts, and increase your productivity. Afterall it’s true, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise”.
