Most of us know that sleep is important, but did you know that good QUALITY sleep is just as important as healthy eating and exercise? Poor sleep (less than 7 hours a night) has been linked to increased inflammation in the body causing increased risk for: heart disease and type II diabetes.
Lack of sleep (less than 7 hours a night) has even been linked to low libido in women. Getting a good night’s sleep (7 hours or more) helps to create: better memory, stable moods, better focus and concentration as well as stable blood sugars.
A study comparing traditionally sleep-deprived interns with interns who were allowed to sleep longer showed that the sleep-deprived group made 36% more errors than the non-sleep deprived group.
It is not surprising that good sleep fosters better creativity. However, those that sleep on average seven hours or more a night tends to consume fewer calories and are able to maintain healthy weight and deal with overall stress more effectively than those that get less than seven hours of sleep.
Sleep hygiene strategies include no electronics 1-2 hours before bed. Use this time to do some light stretching or meditation to end and process your day. Avoid caffeinated beverages 5 hours before sleep (for some even earlier.)
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