Sleep is a strong building block for how we function throughout our day-to-day lives. We’d all like to get several hours of decent rest each night, but it doesn’t always seem feasible. It’s easy to make excuses, touting busy schedules, extra hours at work, etc. But, not getting enough rest could be the underlying cause of several different health issues.
The good news? Getting more rest can often help to alleviate several health conditions and concerns. A simple rest may be able to do more for your mind and body than you think. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest health benefits behind getting enough rest.
Faster Brain Function
Did you know that it only takes about 3-4 hours of sleep each day/night to function cognitively? You’ll be able to do basic things, and go through your daily routine with few problems. But, problems-solving can become harder with less sleep. After a good night’s rest, you’ll be more equipped to handle deeper questions and solve more difficult problems. If you’ve been having trouble focusing at work or contributing your answers, for example, it could be because you’re not getting the right amount of sleep.
Healthy Skin
None of us want to hear someone utter the phrase, ‘you look tired.’ But, there is some science behind that saying that we don’t often realize. Not getting enough rest can actually make your skin and face look tired and dried out. Sleep deprivation causes stress hormones like cortisol to elevate. When they do, it can directly affect the way your skin looks and feels. The more good rest you can get, the healthier your skin will look.
Immune System Benefits
One of the biggest benefits of getting rest is that it can boost your immune system. Have you found yourself getting sick a lot lately? Try sleeping it off, in every sense of the word. Not getting enough sleep can weaken your immune system, making it less able to fight back against viruses and other conditions. Getting enough rest every day allows your immune system to stay strong, so it can fight back against illnesses. If you’re prone to getting sick often, look at your sleeping habits. You may need to bump up the amount of rest you’re getting in order to start feeling better, overall.
How Rest Affects the Body
The amount of rest you get also can directly affect everything from your heart and liver, to your sexual function. We take sleep for granted far too often, but not many of us are actually getting enough of it. Sometimes, you don’t need an official medical diagnosis or a lot of medication to fix an underlying health problem.
Taking care of your mind and body in every sense of the word can make a big difference. That includes getting the right amount of rest each day for your overall health. Rest does more for your body than you might think, and when we pay closer attention to that, we can value the healing benefits of a simple rest even more.
Counselling Burnaby Vancouver, Via Counselling & Consulting. Burnaby Counsellor Shari Wood, M.Ed., R.C.C. is dedicated to helping clients begin their personal therapeutic journey. A Clinical Counsellor, specializing in helping people overcome self-doubt and build healthy relationships.