6 REASONS SLEEP SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR NEW YEAR'S GOALS

Want to make a healthy New Year’s resolution? Try getting more sleep! 

If you are one to make New Year resolutions every year, your goals are likely to be the same as everyone else’s goals. You want to make positive changes in your life, lose weight, get into better shape, get successful in your career or make time for your passions. Usually missing from this list is the ultimate resolution most likely to make all the others easier to accomplish – getting a full night of sleep each night.

Although it is recommended to get around 8 hours of sleep each night for optimal health, adults worldwide only sleep on average 6.8 hours per night (read the study). Quality sleep is vital for your mind and body and the key successfully achieve most of your New Year’s resolutions.

Here is why better sleep it the best goal you can have for 2021.

 

1. You will be more productive at work.

Want to get a promotion in 2021? Be the lead of a new project? Close an important deal? … You may want to start by paying attention to your sleeping habits.

Sleep is essential for allowing our brain cells to repair themselves. Memory and learning skills are strengthen while we sleep. Well rested, we are better at concentrating, long-term planning, decision-making and problem solving.

A 2007 study has shown that after ten nights of just 7 hours of sleep, our brain is as dysfunctional as it would be after staying awake for 24 hours. You can imagine how it is difficult to do work and behave properly in these conditions.

To sharpen your mind and excel at work, start being consistent with getting 8 hours of sleep each night. 

 

2. You will be more creative.

Sleep and the act of dreaming involve the recombination of cognitive elements into new ideas and imagination. It has been proven with studies that getting enough sleep promotes creativity.

Many major innovations came from dreams. From the periodic table of elements of Dmitri Mendeleev or Google search engine of Larry Page to the song ‘Yesterday’ of Paul McCartney.

If your job has a creative side or if you are planning on starting artistic activities, then your sleeping time is non-negotiable.

 

3. You will be in a better mood.

Getting the appropriate amount of shut-eye has a direct impact on our emotional stability. Sleep helps us regulate and express our emotions. A study by sleep expert Matthew Walker shows a 60 percent amplification in emotional reactivity in participants who were sleep deprived. 

Well-rested we are able to control the way we communicate and build strong relationships. We are less likely to become irritable and feel overwhelmed by stressful situations. Sleep also decreases our stress levels and prevent us from developing various mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. 

 

4. You will have better control over your diet

If losing weight or eating healthier are part of your New Year’s resolutions, prioritizing your sleep can really facilitate your task. The more sleep deprived you are, the more likely you are to reach for high calorie food.

The lack of sleep increase the concentration of ghrelin (the hunger hormone) in our body and reduce the production of leptin (the fullness hormone). On top of this, the lack of self-control following a short night can lead to poor food choices.

More sleep means better hormonal balance and it is the key to a healthy diet.

 

5. You will have more energy to exercise.

Moving more is a popular New Year’s resolution. To stick to this healthy goal and stay motivated your sleep quality is key. Getting 8 hours of sleep at night will make you more likely to engage in physical activity during the day and will improve your overall athletic performance including your reaction time, recovery, motor-skills etc.

Need some proof? NBA champion LeBron James and tennis legend Roger Federer sleep for an average of 12 hours per day in order to perform at their best level.

Added bonus, exercising at least 30 minutes per day will also help you fall asleep faster at night.  

 

6. You will strengthen your immune system.

 A large number of studies have established a link between the lack of sleep and serious health problems including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity and mental disorders. Making sleep a priority is the best way to prevent these diseases and make sure your immune system has enough time to restore at night.

Getting enough sleep will prevent you from getting sick and therefore having enough energy to accomplish all you other goals of 2021. 

 

We hope you are now convinced to give priority to your sleep time in 2021. We are here to assist you on your journey towards better sleep and a healthier lifestyle, providing you with education and carefully selected products. Discover our range here.

In 2021, sleep well and become your best self!