February 6, 2025

A Good Night’s Rest Is Essential–Here Are Some Of The Reasons Why

Why Sleeping Better Leads To Feeling Better

Sleeping is a universal need. And since we spend roughly a third of our lives sleeping, most of us realise – even if not consciously so – that sleep is important.

Sleep is a necessary staple of life and of being alive. And since sleep allows us to relax, unwind, and recover, it is a staple crucially important not only within the context of physical health and well-being, but also of mental and emotional well-being.

The mere fact that sleep deprivation is one of the most effective means of political and war-time torture should be proof enough to convince us of the crucial importance of getting sufficient amounts of uninterrupted, good quality shut-eye.

We “Grow” Into Sleeping

Over the course of our lifetime, literally everything about us will at some point or another have undergone a significant change. Sleep is no exception.

When we’re born, our sleeping patterns and habits aren’t nearly as “organised” as what are the sleeping patterns of most adults. The brain is the most complex of all our organs, and as such, takes time to develop to the point of “sleep maturity”. So intricate is sleep, that there are even differences between how men and women sleep – with women on average sleeping more than men. Sleep also undergoes significant changes as we grow older, with younger people more prone to experience a delayed schedule than their parents or grandparents. This is simply because older people tend to get up earlier and therefore go to bed earlier too.

Interesting to note about the relationship between sleep and age is that people who are older and physically healthy tend to have much better sleep cycles than those living with life-threatening diseases.

Insomnia – It Impacts Everything

It is important to address insomnia and other sleep-deprivation disorders as soon as they arise. Symptoms of sleep deprivation can have extreme effects on our quality of life. Everything about us is negatively impacted when we’re deprived of sleep – we’re psychologically, physically, emotionally, and even cognitively worse off when suffering of a lack of sleep.

Common symptoms across the spectrum include social withdrawal, difficulties with memory and learning, confusion, blurred vision, general fatigue, and even heart palpitations caused by hormonal changes.

Advice For A Good Night’s Rest

Given all of the above, a lack of sleep should obviously be managed – avoided even. Lucky for us, thanks to the many who have before us declared war on insomnia, there are some excellent strategies and approaches to not only help us fall asleep faster, but also enjoy better quality sleep in general:

  • Minimise any activity or habit causing mental and/or physical stress around bedtime.
  • Refrain from watching television or browsing the web in bed. Rather play your online Blackjack games throughout the day, they are too exciting for just before you go to sleep.
  • Resist the need to peek at the clock to see what time it is once you’re in bed. Constantly checking the time creates tension in the body and mind.
  • Avoid settling down for a quick nap during the day.
  • Keep regular bedtimes and regular wake-times. This approach should be maintained even on weekends, during vacations, and any other days “off”. We are creatures of habit and of routine.
  • The human body needs a dark environment in order to reap sufficient benefits in terms of getting enough sleep. Try to block from the bedroom any unnecessary light.