A good night’s sleep is more important than you might realize. The amount of sleep you get and the quality of that sleep have an enormous impact on your wellbeing. Not only does it affect mental health, but it also affects your physical health as well.

Raising awareness about the importance of sleep is essential to general health awareness. That’s why March is National Sleep Awareness Month.

The Importance of Sleep Awareness Month

The quality and duration of your sleep play a vital part in your body’s ability to regulate metabolism. It also plays an important role in your ability to regulate:

• Emotions
• Learning
• Remembering

If you don’t get enough sleep, it can cause a lot of issues.

Sleep deprivation over a period of time can impair your reaction time (more specifically, hand-eye coordination) and your judgment. For example, lack of sleep can cause driver fatigue, which leads to an estimated 83,000 car accidents a year. Additionally, prolonged sleep deprivation has been linked to depression, the increased perception of pain, and a weakened immune system.

How To Improve Your Quality Of Sleep

First, you need to understand just how much sleep is needed for a healthy lifestyle. According to the AASM (American Academy of Sleep Medicine), adults should sleep at least seven hours a night. Children between the ages of 13-18 should sleep between 8-10 hours a night. The younger children are, the more sleep they need.

To ensure you’re getting the proper amount of sleep, go to bed at the same time every night. Establish a relaxing routine that makes it easier to fall asleep. For instance, take a warm bath or shower before bed. Avoid staring at any screens, such as your TV, computer, tablet, or phone, right before going to sleep. Turn out all lights as you prepare for bed.

Get the Sleep You Need

Sleep is important, which is why March is Sleep Awareness Month. For more sleeping advice or any other health-related information, visit us at The Benefits Store.