What are your resolutions for 2014? Maybe you’re hoping to lose weight or eat better. Although we all seem to make resolutions for the new year, studies show that only about 8 percent of us actually achieve them. The reason? It could be because we’re not getting enough sleep.
As a society, we’re tired. Two in five Americans don’t get the recommended seven or more hours of sleep a night. Despite what many people believe, we cannot get by on just four or five hours of sleep. What you may not realize is that the lack of shut eye can have negative effects on your health.
For instance, too little sleep is often associated with weight gain and obesity. This could be because the less sleep you get, the more opportunity you have to eat. People who stay up late tend to eat more snacks and calories in general. When you’re fatigued, you are also more likely to choose high-fat and high-sugar foods rather than nutritious ones.
Skimping on sleep can also affect your memory. The brain uses the time you sleep to store and retain new facts and information. When you are sleep deprived, it prevents memories from being saved by the brain at night.
It has been shown that people who get less than six hours of sleep a night are at a greater risk of having a stroke, heart attack, and cancer. Lack of sleep also ups your chances of dying younger from any cause.
Although our resolutions tend to focus on exercise and productivity, maybe it’s time to put sleep at the top of the list. Getting a little extra sleep per night can make a huge difference in the way we look and feel throughout the day.