According to recent polls, 40% of us make resolutions, and some of the most commonly reported goals are to exercise more, lose weight and eat healthier. However, what’s missing from this list might be the most important factor to consider when achieving these goals.
We spend up to a third of our lives doing it, yet we often neglect to consider the importance of its impact on our everyday health and wellbeing. While it’s free to do and requires no special equipment, most of us aren’t getting enough of it. Your Snore MD dream team is dedicated to helping you get a great night’s sleep, which in turn might help you stay on top of your new year’s resolutions. Read on to discover why a great night’s sleep should be a priority in all our lives this year!
Reason #1 – Great sleep makes you more likely to stick to your diet
Are you one of the 10% of the population who’s resolved to eat healthier and lose weight this year? Getting a great night’s sleep can be the key to resisting food temptations and cravings. In studies, sleep-deprived volunteers showed steep decreases in the “appetitive evaluation regions” in their brains when compared to their well-rested selves. The volunteers reported “a significant increase in the desire for weight-gain-promoting, high-calorie foods following sleep deprivation,” said researchers Stephanie Greer, Andrea Goldstein and Walker. Make great sleep the first step in your healthier diet and lifestyle this year.
Reason #2 – A great sleep a day keeps the doctor away
Poor sleep has been linked to a plethora of diseases including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and even some forms of cancer, reports the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. When your sleep suffers, every major system, tissue and organ of your body suffers. Prioritize getting at least 8 hours of quality sleep per night this year – no aspect of your health can endure sleep loss and escape unharmed.
Reason #3 – Great sleep will help you keep your cool
The holidays can be a stressful time for anyone, and 2020 was a particularly tough year for us all. Do you notice yourself struggling to find your inner calm? A lack of sleep could be to blame. “A lack of sleep inappropriately modulates the human emotional brain response to negative aversive stimuli,” several researchers concluded in 2007. A calmer brain helps us navigate the stresses of daily life with less hassles and frustrations. Reduce your stress levels this year by improving the length and quality of your sleep.
Are you or a loved one not getting the great sleep you need to be successful in 2021? Take the Free Online Sleep Quiz to get started on the road to a healthier year! Contact a Snore MD near you to find out more!
Article written by Kristen Polsky
Krysten Polsky is an experienced Registered Respiratory Therapist with Snore MD. Krysten provides patient care and clinical expertise to the entire clinical team at Snore MD and has developed respiratory clinical modules to raise the expertise of all team members at Snore MD…
