Good sleep is crucial to our health and well-being. Getting enough quality sleep regularly can help not only feel more alert, but it can also impact brain function, support growth and influence mental and physical health.
Not getting enough sleep can lead to a higher risk of certain chronic conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and strokes. It can also greatly impact your metabolism and vital hormone production, as well as your immune system response.
The recommended daily sleep hours vary by age group, with those younger requiring more time than older adults. Since sleep helps with development and learning, suffering from sleep deficiency can cause people to have a harder time processing thoughts, impacting daily activities, which is particularly crucial for developing children.
Since its Sleep Awareness Month, this is the perfect opportunity to prioritize sleep and support well-being. It’s not just about how many hours of sleep you are getting, but about the quality of nightly rest as well as your bedtime habits.
To mark Sleep Awareness Month, UnitedHealthcare shares the following health benefits of good rest and how to support better sleep, including:
- Why we sleep and the importance of sleep quality: Sleep sometimes falls through the wayside in our busy schedules, but it is key to help you thrive and function.
- The benefit of a routine: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to encourage stability and good rest and opt to create a proper sleep environment.
- Positive daily habits: Eat a nutritious diet, limit caffeinated beverages later in the day and make sure you are staying active to encourage restfulness.
- How to cultivate peace and reduce stress for better sleep: Consider breathing techniques, mindfulness exercises and practices like yoga to reduce stress and anxiety.
