I have been known to wake up in the middle of the night and start working on a project or my business. I definitely wouldn’t choose to get up in the middle of the night, but unfortunately, it happens more often than I like. As a result, when I have this interrupted sleep, I started a practice to get back to sleep.
But before I go into my practices… I wanted to tell how important sleep really is…
I know the lack of sleep makes me cranky and disoriented. But you may not know what it can do to your sex life, memory, health, looks, and even ability to lose weight.
Take a look at these 8 unpredicted and serious effects of sleep loss.
1. Sleepiness Causes Accidents- Sleep deprivation was a factor in some of the biggest disasters in recent history. (Peri, n.d.)
2. Sleep Loss Dumbs You Down- Sleep plays a critical role in thinking and learning. Lack of sleep hurts the cognitive processes in many ways. (Peri, n.d.)
3. Sleep Deprivation Can Lead to Serious Health Problems- Sleep disorders and chronic sleep loss can put you at risk for Heart Diseases, High Blood Pressure, Stroke and Diabetes (Peri, n.d.)
4. Lack of Sleep Kills Sex Drive- Sleep specialists say that sleep-deprived men and women report lower libidos and less interest in sex (Peri, n.d.)
5. Sleepiness Is Depressing- In a 2005 Sleep in America poll, people who were diagnosed with depression or anxiety were more likely due to sleeping less than six hours at night. (Peri, n.d.)
6. Lack of Sleep Ages Your Skin- It turns out that chronic sleep loss can lead to lackluster skin, fine lines, and dark circles under the eyes
7. Losing Sleep Can Make You Gain Weight- Lack of sleep seems to be related to an increase in hunger and appetite, and possibly to obesity. According to a 2004 study, people who sleep less than six hours a day were almost 30 percent more likely to become obese than those who slept seven to nine hours. (Peri, n.d.)
8. Lack of Sleep May Increase Risk of Death- The results, published in 2017, showed that those who had cut their sleep from seven to five hours or fewer a night nearly doubled their risk of death from all causes. In particular, lack of sleep doubled the risk of death from cardiovascular disease (Peri, n.d.)
I don’t know about y’all but looking at this list and these items don’t fit in my happy life goals lol.
So, what do I do when I wake in the middle of the night?!
- I stop getting out of bed because this made me fully awake
- I do a couple of Yoga moves to set my body at ease… in the bed
- Make sure that my pillows are not flat which can block my breathing
- Lastly, I close my eye and say a prayer asking God to help me go back to sleep, and thanking him for resolving everything I may be worrying about
Let me tell you it’s my winning practice, but I have also changed what I do before I go to bed. I drink a cup of chamomile tea, read a relaxing book, and stop looking at social media lol. I’m not cured of some sleepless nights but these changes really have helped me. But, If you find nothing is working on your own, please see a doctor, because it could be other issues that may need a professional to assist you with getting a night of great sleep.
Remember, health and wellness are key to self-care! Let’s make it a priority to take care of ourselves.
I Am Beautifully ME
Reference:
Peri, C. (n.d.). 10 Surprising Effects of Lack of Sleep. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/10-results-sleep-loss#3