Why do we sleep?

Why do we sleep? There are many reasons, some of which are obvious, and others not so much. But it is hard to argue that sleep is not one of the most important, if not the most important thing we do on a daily basis in regard to our health and well-being. This blog will touch on some of the reasons we sleep and how we can improve our sleep.

One of the main reasons we sleep is for recovery. Sleep helps repair muscle tissue that has broken down as a result of exercise, but also helps repair cellular damage. This means that sleep is not only vital for our physiological function, but also our cognitive function. It is common in our culture to think of foregoing sleep for productivity purposes as a noble act. One that successful people do to get ahead. And while this may work for short bouts, all you’re really doing by forgoing sleep for more work is making yourself less capable of being productive and sharp. Therefore, decreasing your potential output and productivity in the long run. Sacrificing sleep then is actually counterproductive towards the goals you have in the first place, and you will actually end up doing more harm than good. Getting enough high quality sleep will actually lead to you having a greater capacity in your waking hours, allowing you to be more productive.

Not sleeping enough also puts you at a much higher risk for cancer, heart attacks and ultimately, a shorter life. There are also a number of other negative health effects of poor sleep including putting you at a higher risk of weight gain and obesity due to increased appetite and decreased impulse control, leading to binging and overeating. Another one is decreased vitality, lack of sleep can impair a person’s ability to reproduce. Lack of sleep can also make you more prone to viruses due to a weakened immune system. The list goes on and on. But the main takeaway is this, all lack of sleep does is make life harder. So why put yourself through that?

Here are some ways you can improve your sleep. The first being creating some sort of pre-bedtime ritual. This should include dimming the lights or candlelight, and staying away from overstimulating activities such as social media, tv shows, video games, etc. Instead, opt for listening to music or reading. You can purchase a reading light online if needed. You should also be avoiding stimulants if looking to improve your sleep. The most common one is caffeine. Any caffeine consumption will negatively affect your sleep quality. But if you choose to consume caffeine, be sure to limit your consumption to morning hours only, or else you’re asking for serious sleep disruption, even if it “feels” like you’re sleeping fine. Temperature is also a big factor in sleep quality, make sure your room is cool. One final thing you can do to improve your body’s circadian rhythm is getting adequate sunlight in the morning and throughout the day. This helps signal to your body it is day time, and in turn, sets your circadian rhythm so that when nighttime rolls around, your body is ready for sleep.

If you’re interested in learning about this topic more in depth, try reading, “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker for a more in depth analysis. But, next time you’re considering sacrificing sleep for the sake of productivity, think again. Get some sleep. You’ll be more productive the next day as a result.