Adults need an average of seven hours of sleep a night, but sleep schedules look different for everyone. Whether you struggle to fall asleep or can’t seem to wake up in the mornings, managing a sleep schedule can be difficult. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that 1 in 3 adults are not getting enough sleep, which impacts their overall health. Below, we discuss three areas of your life that can be influenced by a proper sleep schedule.
Physical health
The body’s internal clock, better known as circadian rhythm, regulates your sleep cycles. A circadian cycle repeats every 24 hours, and disruption of this cycle can cause problems for your body. Almost every tissue in your body is affected by sleep, according to sleep experts. Lack of sleep has been linked to a variety of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. By sticking to a regular sleep schedule, you reduce the risk of these diseases for yourself significantly.
Mental health
Stress levels have been proven to decrease with a regular sleep schedule. Getting a good night’s sleep generally boosts one’s mood. Sleep is closely connected to mental and emotional health and has demonstrated links to depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other conditions. While research is ongoing to better understand the connections between mental health and sleep, it is well known that poor sleep can be a contributing factor to the initiation and worsening of mental health problems.
Performance
A proper sleep schedule allows you to wake up and feel well rested daily. It also leads to increased energy levels. Sleep is important for certain brain functions like concentration, memory and productivity. A proper sleep schedule can help improve your mental capacity at school or in your professional life.
Overall, sticking to a regular sleep schedule will significantly improve your life. Sleep affects a great deal of your mental and physical well-being. Going to sleep and waking up around the same time, even on weekends, is important if you want to maintain a proper schedule.
At Compwell, we empower our patients to be in control of their health, and we help them gain control over lifestyle routines, such as a consistent sleep schedule. Our services achieve meaningful health results by encompassing what is important to the patient – including lifestyle, goals and motivations – while utilizing the latest evidence-based clinical guidelines to drive decisions. Contact us today if you are interested in learning more about our services.