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The importance of sleep for emotional wellbeing
By Emma Kenny
Eating right and getting plenty of exercise are great ways to stay healthy, but it’s important not to neglect your emotional health and wellbeing. Sleep actually plays a vital role in protecting both your physical and mental health.
For those of us that love our sleep (yes, that includes me by the way!) this article should read like a dream (sorry!). The truth is that sleep plays a critical role in the quality of our lives. With just the right amount you'll wake up fresh as the morning dew. Start skipping your snoozing and it's a different – and potentially dangerous - story.
When we don't get enough shut-eye, it can lead to a number of mental and physical health issues. Think about it: if you are overtired, you might have a car accident, or if you are sleep-deprived, you may raise your risk of some chronic health problems, poor cognitive function, and general irritability.
How sleep affects your brain
Plainly put, sleep helps your brain function properly, which directly influences your emotional wellbeing and cognitive function. Research has shown that getting a good night’s sleep can improve your ability to learn. When you sleep, your brain is actually hard at work forming new pathways to help you remember information and learn more easily. It also improves your ability to pay attention, make decisions, and be creative.
When you suffer from a lack of sleep, it actually alters how some parts of your brain function. You may find it more difficult to make decisions, solve problems, control your emotions, and cope with change. Sleep deprivation has also been linked to risky behaviour, depression, and suicide.
Getting enough sleep
So, how much sleep is enough? For me, it's at least 8 hours a night, but there are some general guidelines that are worth following. The amount of sleep you need each day changes over the course of your life, and will vary a bit from person to person but, in general, the younger you are, the more sleep you need. For example, babies need between 16 and 18 hours a day, but teens need about nine or ten. Adults (including the elderly) tend to need between seven and eight hours nightly, although this can vary.
Though you may not suffer serious effects by having one night of poor sleep, routinely losing sleep can be detrimental – and you can’t make up for lost sleep. Napping is a great way to provide short-term boosts, but it doesn’t provide all of the benefits of night-time deep sleep.
Be sure to have a look at Dr Hilary's article and video on sleep, and remember - bad sleep habits and long-term sleep deprivation will affect both your physical and mental health.
Content provided by the experts at holistic health hub MakeYourSwitch.co.uk. Throughout March, sign-up with the code MYSMarch1 to receive 30% off membership, receiving expert advice, from nutrition to wellbeing and tailored fitness routines