We are a nation of insomniacs we are often told, and yet good sleep is critical to our health and wellbeing.  Here a guest writer offers us  compelling reasons to get good sleep. I have used Melatonin in the past for jet lag and it was very effective!

You’ve likely heard that sleep is a fundamental component of good health, but you might not be aware of just how critical it is to every aspect of your well-being. Getting high-quality, adequate amounts of sleep on a nightly basis can have a transformative effect on your overall health. On the other hand, regular sleep deprivation or deficiency can cause serious health problems over time and may affect your day-to-day quality of life as well. If you’re curious about why it’s so important to get those eight solid hours every night, check out these six interesting health benefits of sleep that you might not have known about!

1. It Helps You Feel Refreshed and Ready To Work the Next Day

Perhaps one of the most important reasons to get enough sleep every night is that it helps rejuvenate your mind and body to prepare you for the next day. Without enough sleep, your energy will start to drop and you may experience fatigue. This is especially critical if you work full time, since lack of sleep could end up having a direct impact on your livelihood. Of course, if you’re having a difficult time falling asleep on a semi-regular to regular basis, it could impact your energy levels, your work life and more. That’s why you may want to consider keeping melatonin handy. This useful supplement is a natural way to get to sleep faster, so you won’t have to worry about restless nights interfering with your work life or your personal life.

2. It’s Critical for Strong Immune Health and Resiliency

Besides everyday quality of life, another health benefit of sleep is that it helps strengthen your immune system and boost your overall resiliency. Whether you have a soothing bedtime ritual to help you sleep or you simply prefer to buy melatonin online just in case of restless nights, getting adequate sleep can help you ward off illnesses, fight off colds and recover from sick periods more effectively.

3. Quality Sleep Can Improve Your Mood and Your Quality of Life

Studies have shown that high-quality sleep can make a major difference in an individual’s mood, outlook on life and overall quality of life. If you constantly feel down in the dumps, try getting some extra sleep and keep a journal of how you feel the next morning! You could potentially experience:

  • A better mood
  • A more positive outlook on life
  • A decreased chance of developing anxiety and depression

4. Lack of Sleep Could Be Linked to Weight Gain and Hormonal Imbalances

If you’ve been struggling to lose weight or trying to figure out the causes behind your recent unexplained weight gain, you may want to take a closer look at your sleep schedule. One little-known benefit of adequate sleep is its role in hormonal regulation. Sleep helps prevent hormonal imbalances that could lead to unwanted weight gain and similar health problems, so if you’re unhappy with your current weight, try getting to bed a bit earlier and see if it makes a difference!

5. It May Help Boost Your Athletic Performance

Professional athletes know all about the importance of adequate sleep, but even if you just work out for fun or to stay healthy, quality sleep can help boost your overall athletic performance. With a good night’s rest, you could potentially see improvements in:

  • Your speed and reaction time
  • Your accuracy
  • Your stamina and strength
  • Your mental acuity
  • Your resiliency and ability to rebound physically and mentally

6. Inadequate Sleep Could Lead to Dangerous Consequences

Finally, a little-known health benefit of good sleep is that it helps keep you alert and on your toes. Without enough sleep, you could lose some of that mental acuity. Unfortunately, inadequate sleep, especially if it recurs over several nights, could play a role in numerous dangerous situations such as:

  • Car accidents
  • Careless mistakes
  • Tripping and falling

From supporting a strong immune system to keeping your hormones regulated to boosting your workouts and more, a good night’s sleep is a critical part of maintaining your overall health and well being. Now that you know all about the many health benefits of getting good sleep, be sure to wind down, take some melatonin if needed and get some quality rest tonight!

Of course I would add DITCH THE BOOZE to aid sleep! (Janey)