Whether your goal is to develop a new fitness regime, eat healthy, or earn more from a promotion this year, sleep is the first step to success. Sleep is an important component that many people neglect in the pursuit of improvements in just about every area of life. Below we explain how low quality sleep limits some common resolutions:
“I want to eat healthier” :The pitfalls of eating junk food are twofold when sleep is scarce. Night owls are more likely to snack in the evening, and those who eat during the evening tend to weigh more. Whether you're a night owl or not, people who don't get enough sleep are also prone to making poor meal choices during the day. Sleep restriction lowers a person's levels of leptin (the hormone that makes you feel full) and increases ghrelin, which collectively negatively increase appetite and alter food choices.
“I want to exercise more” :Who wants to go to the gym when they are exhausted? Beyond a lack of mental motivation, the physical results of exercise diminish when your sleep routine is messed up. Researchers have found that adequate sleep improves speed, strength and endurance in athletes. Another study has shown that the connection has benefits for everyone:The less sleep you get, the shorter your training duration will be the next day.
“I want to get a promotion” :Good employees are alert, motivated and cheerful. Those qualities are weakened by lack of sleep. They also encourage mindless scrolling on social media or entertainment sites while you're at work. The risks are not only important for those looking for a better job. A well-rested boss is also likely to be a better employee.
“I want to improve my relationship” :Working on personal problems can be a challenge in itself, but fatigue hinders the healing process. Someone's mood gets worse when they don't sleep. Those with obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially serious condition in which breathing is interrupted during the night, often have "a really short fuse." But once the quality of sleep is improved, their social interactions are significantly enhanced.
“I want to quit smoking” :Sleep deprivation is linked to higher rates of nicotine addiction. The researchers aren't sure why, but it's suspected that much relates to nicotine's "activating" properties to help users relax or focus, among other things. Low sleep reserves affect the ability to make good decisions. So is the demand to use harmful tobacco products, even if you are aware of their harmful effects.
