When we make a New Year’s resolution, we often set a goal for improved health and wellness. Many of us pledge to eat better, exercise more, and practice self-care, but have you ever made a goal to get more and better sleep?
Good sleep is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. Sleep impacts every aspect of our lives. But getting enough sleep – and enough high-quality sleep – is something that many people struggle with. But good sleep is worth it! Here are some of the best reasons to make getting more sleep your New Year’s resolution in 2023.
Sleep Boosts Your Brain
Sleep is vital for every aspect of brain function, and nowhere do we see this more than its impact on cognitive abilities. Studies show sleep is vital for both adults’ and children’s cognitive function. Not getting enough sleep can have a negative effect on the way you process and form memories, the way you make decisions, the way you react emotionally, the way you judge risks, and even how effectively you can think. It also has a major impact on your mood, is related to anxiety, and is even linked to a higher risk of depression.
This means that getting better sleep can be the foundation for improvement at work, better productivity, better academic performance, and much more. It’s a great way to kickstart any other resolutions you may have!
Sleep Is Good For Heart Health
Sleep allows your body to regulate itself and many of your bodily functions. Getting enough sleep each night allows your body’s blood pressure to self-regulate. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, so getting enough sleep can reduce this risk.
Sleep Is How You Heal
Sleep is restful, but that doesn’t mean that your body is inert! When you sleep, your body is hard at work recovering from any damage or illness. Consistent, high-quality sleep provides restorative, protective, and energy-conserving functions. During sleep, your body repairs and grows tissues like bone and muscle.
Sleep also has a major impact on your immune system; without enough sleep, it’s hard to stay healthy.
There is also a significant association between inconsistent sleep and higher levels of inflammation. This means that when a person goes to bed at inconsistent times or gets an inconsistent amount of sleep each night, the body’s process of inflammation regulation is disturbed. When you make a resolution for better sleep, you’re committing to helping your body rejuvenate and restore itself.
How To Get Better Sleep
Now you know why you should make sleep your New Year’s resolution in 2023, but you might not know where to get started. There are some easy changes you can make, like making sure your bedroom is cool and dark, as well as not eating large meals close to bedtime.
If getting good quality sleep is challenging for you, we can help. Our New Jersey sleep centers can help diagnose and treat sleep disorders like insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea.