The importance of quality sleep

If you want to be more productive in your working life, or even in your personal life, it is vital to get good quality sleep.  You may think that pulling a few all-nighters is the most productive route but you will never be able to catch up on that lost sleep, no matter what and that sleepless night of work will have a negative impact on your overall health.  

Symptoms of sleep deprivation

If you notice any of the symptoms below then you need to take these seriously and take measures to correct your sleep patterns.  Far too many people deprive themselves of the required sleep for many years, in some cases decades.

• Constant hunger
• Weight gain
• Impulsive behaviours
• Memory loss
• Trouble with decision-making
• Sluggish motor skills
• Mood swings
• Frequent colds and flu’s
• Difficulty focusing (eyes)

 

Dangers of sleep deprivation

By depriving yourself of sleep for as little as a few weeks can drastically increase your risk of the following:

• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Decreased sex drive
• Impairs attention levels / concentration / problem solving abilities
• Depression
• Premature ageing
• Weight gain
• Increased risk of sudden death

  The ideal amount of sleep to get is 7-9 hours per night.  Women, as a general rule, require at least 1-2 more hours sleep than men.  It is a good idea to put her to bed while you enjoy a few hours of glorious alone time. Women, as a general rule, require at least 1-2 more hours sleep than men. Click To Tweet The average person only gets between 4 and 6 hours of sleep per night.  If you are depriving yourself of sleep during the working week and attempting to catch up on the weekends you are doing yourself a serious disservice.  This simply does not work and you have gone into the realm of chronic sleep deprivation. You may feel that you are far too busy or stressed out to get a full night’s sleep but the damage to your overall health will far outweigh the monetary benefits of working through the night.  It is always far better to be poor and healthy than to be rich and dead.