Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that far too many people take for granted. There are many associated effects, such as feeling moody and poor memory, that can seriously harm our lifestyle and careers. While many busy people swear by getting just a couple hours of sleep per day, they’re actually damaging their health in the long term. Our bodies need time to recharge and that’s where sleeping comes in, so if you deprive your body of that privilege then you’re ultimately going to encounter adverse health effects that could eventually lead to serious complications.
It’s clear to many people that a good night’s sleep is important, but there are still too many people that take this too lightly. If you’re unsure if you’re sleep deprived or not, then here are a couple of signs that show you’re not sleeping enough at night.
Image SourceYou Always Feel Tired During the Day
This is one of the more obvious points, but it still has to be said. Your tiredness might not be because of the physical work you do at your job, it probably isn’t because of your diet and it might not be because you’re overexerting yourself—it’s probably because you aren’t sleeping enough. If you aren’t getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night, then chances are you’re probably depriving yourself of the sleep that your body needs. Try your best not to stress your body out and get an hour or two of shut-eye at night and you’ll find yourself yawning less. However, if you get a good 7-8 hours of sleep per night and you still feel tired, then you may want to speak with your doctor to ensure it’s not an underlying health problem. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, then replacing your mattress with something new, getting luxury California King sheets and adjusting your pillows to the way you sleep can make a huge difference in comfort.
You’re Constantly Having Mood Swings
The amount of sleep you get at night and your mood are closely linked. Most people already know that if you wake up early or you don’t get enough sleep, you’re in an irritable and foul mood that can quickly spiral out of control. Not only are you more susceptible to mood swings, but it can also make you more aggressive in some situations, you might feel stressed out and there are times when a lack of sleep can make you feel hopeless and sad. This mental exhaustion can have damaging long-term effects if not managed correctly. If you’re limited yourself to less than 6 hours of sleep per day, then you’ll notice a dramatic and immediate difference in your mood after you resume a regular sleeping schedule.
Image SourceYou Find It Difficult to Remember Things
Poor sleep quality can actually contribute to memory loss and even brain deterioration in the elderly. However, even for young people, a lack of sleep can make it difficult to remember certain things. Sleep helps to keep your mind healthy so that you have an easier time acquiring and recalling memories. A lack of sleep reverses this effect, and you’ll find it’s a lot more difficult to recall memories when you’re running on fumes. This can harm your work and make it difficult for you to perform daily tasks.
You’re Getting Sick More Easily Than Before
A lack of sleep has actually been shown to negatively affect your immune system. As you sleep, your body naturally bolsters its immune system by releasing proteins called cytokines. These help you fight infections, inflammations and even the effects of stress. A lack of sleep prevents these cytokines from being produced by your body and your immune system will be weakened as a result. If you want to stay healthy and stop falling ill, then remember to stick to a regular sleeping schedule and get at least 7 hours of sleep per night.
You’re Making Mistakes at Work and Can’t Focus
If you’ve ever been at work talking to someone then suddenly zone out, chances are your focus is probably shot and you need a little bit more sleep. It’s hard to focus after sleeping just a couple of hours because your brain hasn’t had time to rest and recuperate. This negatively affects your work and you might find yourself dozing off at the wheel or during work. Driving while drowsy is incredibly dangerous and is equal to driving while drunk—something that comes with a serious penalty. Instead of relying on copious amounts of caffeine, get some more sleep so that your brain has time to recover from the previous day. This will help you in preventing mistakes, it will increase your focus, and you will ultimately be more productive throughout the day.
