15 Motivational Ways Why Sleep Is Actually The Answer To All Your Problems
Originally published at lmt-lss.com on March 10, 2016.
Dreams are your real-life pensieve.
Would you believe it if I said most of your problems can be solved by sleeping? Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Turns out science has the answer to that. According to research, most of our health and life problems are caused by not getting enough sleep, or poor sleeping habits. So how do you use sleep to cure all your problems? Well, here’s how!
1. It keeps you healthier and less likely to fall sick.
Getting the required eight hours of undisturbed sleep keeps our immune system healthy and fighting fit, which in turn means less of those common colds, sore throats, and unexplained aches and pains.
2. Proper sleep ups productivity.
It is well known that lack of sleep leads to decreased accuracy, drop in productivity levels, and low motivation. In fact, being sleep deprived is akin to being intoxicated when it comes to high focus tasks like driving.
3. You’re less stressed out.
Stress and good sleep have an inverse relationship. If you’re well-rested you can easily shrug off minor stresses and are well equipped to deal with the major ones.
4. You get younger by the day.
Always wished for a fountain of youth? Well, it exists. It’s called sleep. Sleeping soundly and for the right amount of time keeps our brain and skin cells feeling, looking and staying young. Want to get rid of those wrinkles? Drink plenty of water, and get enough sleep.
5. You have better levels of concentration.
Being well rested means that your accuracy is high, and that you are better equipped to deal with tasks requiring high degrees of focus, like driving, performing an operation, and doing intricate tasks like embroidery.
6. Sleeping well makes you happier.
Oxytocin levels in blood have been shown to be linked with the quality and amount of sleep one gets. Those who sleep for eight to ten hours per day, and go to bed early, tend to have higher levels of oxytocin, which means that they stay happier in general, and are less affected by setbacks.
7. It makes you thinner.
Lack of sleep can be a major deterrent to losing weight. Perversely, sleeping more actually facilitates weight loss. Of course that does not mean you mean you spend all day sleeping and not exercising. But make sure you get your requisite eight hours of undisturbed sleep a day.
8. Healthier sleeping habits make you calmer and more cheerful.
Not getting proper sleep means that you tend to be grumpier and have zero patience with things going wrong. Proper sleep ensures that you feel fresh and rested in the morning, and are less likely to shout at that unsuspecting intern in your office.
9. Sleep is the key to a healthier heart.
Research shows that regular sleep slows regulates heartbeat levels and makes you less likely to fall prey to cardiovascular diseases.
10. Not only the heart, it keeps the blood sugar in check too.
Just one sleepless night causes a 5–7% spike in blood sugar levels. Sleep well each night to keep your blood sugar levels from sky-rocketing.
11. You tend to eat less.
When your body is short on energy due to lack of sleep, it turns to carbohydrates to compensate. That explains why you crave those cookies so much after a sleepless night.
12. You’re less likely to kill people.
Studies have shown that 40–45% of road rage cases come from sleep-deprived people. Anger management classes also suggest proper sleep as a way to combat uncontrolled rage.
13. You can literally solve problems in your sleep.
Don’t you sometimes wake up with a solution to a problem that’s been bothering you for days? Well, science tells us that our brains actually work better when we sleep, so we are more likely to solve a problem asleep than awake.
14. Dreams keep our creative juices running.
A lot of famous artists, writers and creators have claimed that the idea for something great came to them in a dream. So, dream away. Who knows, you might just be the next Michelangelo!
15. Dreams also help us analyse our thoughts better.
Dreams are your real-life Pensieve. If you’ve read Harry Potter, you know what I’m talking about. Dreams help us to collect our thoughts, think about problems more clearly, and bring to the fore our innermost feelings.
There isn’t much a good night’s sleep can’t cure. Make sure your sleeping habits are not unhealthy, and you are getting enough sleep, and bring your problems to an all-time low!
