The power of a good night’s sleep

For many of us Christmas is a very busy time of year; with all the extra socialising and celebrations, not to mention the huge list of extra jobs that need to be done, we tend to burn the candle at both ends. Reducing the time we spend resting, especially the time we spend sleeping, can make us grumpy, irritable and feel more stressed.

The power of a good night’s sleep

Sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle; it reduces your stress levels and is an important time for regeneration and recovery. When we sleep our bodies work to heal damaged tissues and replace aging cells, so we can be at our best again the next day.

Seven – nine hours is the ideal amount of sleep 

Sleep is also a time for the brain to recharge, so we can sharpen our senses, improve our attention levels and be more focussed. A good night sleep gives us energy and helps us achieve a far more positive perspective on life, it can really brighten your mood and boost your day.

Give yourself the gift of sleep

Here are a few good reasons to give yourself the gift of a good night’s sleep; 

• Better health – studies have found a link between insufficient sleep and some serious health problems including heart disease and diabetes. 
• Reduced levels of pain – many studies have shown a link between sleep loss and a lower pain threshold – that is feeling more pain. 
• Lower risk of injury – when we are tired we lose concentration therefore sleep deprivation can be the cause of accidents – ranging from minor incidents around the house to more serious ones such as a card crash.
• Better mood – not sleeping affects your emotional regulation and makes you more likely to lose your temper or become ‘over emotional’.
• Weight control – sleep loss is linked to an increased risk of gaining weight. It makes sense, people who feel tired often try to boost their energy by eating high fat, high calorie snacks. And, if you are tired, you are less likely to take excersise.
• Clearer thinking – sleep loss affects how you think. Studies show that people who are sleep-deprived are substantially worse at solving problems.
• Better memory – while we sleep, our brains process and consolidate our memories. If you don’t get enough sleep those memories may not get stored correctly. 
• Stronger immunity – studies suggest that people who get at least eight hours of sleep a night are less prone to picking up colds and viruses.
• A better love life – if you don’t get enough sleep you may be too tired to ‘feel the love’ so improve your romantic life by making sure that you and your partner are well rested. 

We at Willow want you to be at your best everyday and sleep plays a huge part in this. Do tell your chiropractor if you are having difficulty with sleeping as they will be able to suggests ways of improving your sleep routine or make an adjustment to help you to relax. 

Our advice over the busy Christmas period is to keep to your normal routine as much as possible, and try and get around seven to nine hours sleep per night. This will help you to get more out of each and every day – and you’ll have the energy needed to cross more jobs off that never ending list!

Merry Christmas from the team at Willow Chiropractic!