How you feel when you wake up says a lot about the night you had and the day to come. Here are 10 reasons why getting a good night's shut eye will set you up for a brighter day.
1. Keep your figure
Watching your weight can be as simple as getting a
good night's sleep. Lack of sleep can make you put on weight by
drastically slowing your metabolism down, according to a study by
scientists at Uppsala University in Sweden. The researchers suggested
getting plenty of sleep might prevent weight gain. continue after the cut..
2. You can concentrate better
We have all woken up after a good night's sleep
ready to take on the world. But IKEA's Slumber Survey found one in
three Australians rate their sleep as 'poor' to 'terrible'. A bad
night's sleep can leave you struggling all day. More than half of us
will have problems concentrating after sleeping badly, according to a
survey by shopping channel QVC.
3. You'll be in a great mood
Nearly two thirds of people blame lack of sleep when they feel irritable, according to the QVC survey.
IKEA
spokesman Angela McCann says: "It's unsurprising only 1% of those asked
in the Slumber Survey claim to feel fantastic when they wake up. The
lack of sleep and the ensuing tiredness is likely impacting on people's
judgment, problem-solving and creativity."
4. You'll look more attractive
Regular shut-eye actually makes you look
healthier and more attractive, according to a 2010 study published in
the British Medical Journal. Researchers photographed 23 people after a
period of sleep deprivation and after a normal night's sleep of eight
hours. The photos were shown to 65 people who rated each photo based on
health attractiveness and tiredness. The sleep deprived group scored
lower in all three categories.
5. Ability to make better informed decisions
We've all heard of sleeping on a problem, in the
hope that come morning the solution will be clear. Well scientists have
found that when you do this your brain still looks for a solution, even
when you're asleep. Even if you don't wake up with an answer, a good
night's sleep will equip your brain to assess the problem afresh.
6. You'll live longer
Regularly sleeping less than you should is
associated with a shorter lifespan, although it is not clear whether
little sleep is the cause, or an effect of other illnesses. Studies have
found people who routinely sleep for fewer than six hours a night have a
higher risk of dying sooner than people of a similar age who sleep for
seven or eight hours a night.
7. You'll be a winner
Getting extra sleep can even improve athletic
performance. Five swimmers were monitored as part of a study in 2008,
they extended their sleep to 10 hours a day for six to seven weeks. At
the end of the study the athletes could swim faster and react more
quickly. With Australians sleeping for seven hours each night on
average, according to IKEA's Slumber Survey, three more hours in bed
could make us quicker and sharper.
8. You're less likely to get ill
Lack of sleep can suppress your immune system,
which makes you more vulnerable to infections. A study in 2009 found
that sleeping for fewer than seven hours a night increased the risk of
catching a cold. The team from Carnegie Mellon University found the risk
was trebled compared with those who slept for eight hours or more a
night.
9. You'll remember things clearly
During deep sleep the brain goes through our
impressions of the day in a process vital to memory formation. A study
published in the journal Sleep found people who slept fewer than six
hours a night for two weeks scored far worse on memory tests than those
who slept eight hours.
10. You'll have better sex
The better rested you are, the better sex you'll
have, according to researchers. The 2010 Sleep in America poll found
about 20-30 per cent of men and women felt their family life and sexual
relationships had been affected by their sleepiness.
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