You have likely heard the expression, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” which implies that life should be embraced to the fullest. It also gives the impression that sleep is a waste of time and something that shouldn’t be bothered with for the person who wants to live a life rich in adventure. This belief is incorrect. Not only can sleep improve the quality of your life, it can also negatively impact your life if you don’t get enough.

Sleep is Tied to Emotional Well-Being and Brain Function

Your brain needs adequate sleep to function properly. This is because it works to help you recall information and form new pathways while you rest. This is why quality sleep is tied so closely to good grades and improved performance. Not getting enough sleep can also make you depressed or sad, reduce your motivation for life, give you mood swings and make you impulsive, all of which negatively alter your emotional well-being.

Serious Repercussion Tied to Sleeping Too Little

Not only does sleep alter the way your brain works, it also plays a huge role in your physical health. For example, your heart and blood vessels are repaired during sleep. In addition, serious, potentially life-threatening conditions like stroke, high blood pressure, kidney disease and heart disease have all been linked to sleep deficiency.

Helps You Maintain a Healthy Weight

Sleep helps your hormones maintain balance, which in turn helps you feel full after eating. In fact, sleep deficiency is closely related to obesity. This is because your unbalanced hormones often make you feel hungry even after you have eaten enough, thus leading to an increased risk of weight gain and eventual obesity.

Now that you know the importance sleep plays in your overall health and well being, you likely wonder if you are getting enough. According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults aged 26 to 64 should sleep between seven and nine hours a night. Of course, your activity demands and personal needs will dictate how much sleep you actually need.