Fit for Practice – Sleep

RESTORATION PILLAR – SLEEP

The power of sleep is undeniable. The amount of sleep you get each night impacts your productivity, emotional balance, brain and heart health, immune function, and even your weight. While you rest, your brain is busy at work restoring your body and performing biological maintenance that keeps your body in peak condition. Without enough restorative sleep, your body will not function at its full potential.

The average adult gets seven hours or less of sleep per night as reported by the National Institutes of Health. We lead busy lives and sometimes struggle to meet the demands of our schedules, and we tend to cut the corners on our sleep to help meet those demands.

This is a recipe for chronic sleep deprivation; insufficient sleep has been linked to the development of many chronic diseases and conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression.

Did you know the average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep every night? Although the amount of sleep you get each night is important, so is the quality of sleep. Signs of poor sleep quality include not feeling rested when you wake up and waking up repeatedly throughout the night. Poor sleep quality can directly affect both your mental and physical health. To establish better sleep habits and improve your sleep quality, try these tips:

• Be consistent with your sleep schedule. Rise and shine at the same time every day, even on the weekends!
• Be sure to go to bed early enough so you can get your recommended amount of sleep each night.
• Exercise regularly.
• Turn off electronic devices at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime.
• Avoid consuming caffeine in the afternoon or evening.
• If you don’t fall asleep after 20 minutes of lying in bed, get up. Perform a quiet activity without a lot of light exposure, and avoid electronic use.

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References
https://sleepeducation.org/healthy-sleep/healthy-sleep-habits/
https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/index.html