Signs You Are Not Getting Enough Sleep

Did you know that 1 in 3 adults in America has sleep deprivation? Signs that you are not getting enough sleep include

• slower thinking,
• shorter attention spans,
• poorer decision-making,
• and lack of energy.

Do you make a cup of coffee every morning and still feel tired after drinking it? Not getting enough sleep can directly affect how you feel during the day. Feeling extremely tired after fueling on coffee can be a sign that you’re not getting enough sleep.

You might be thinking to yourself, “what is the point of drinking coffee if I don't use it to wake myself up?” Well, preventing sleep deprivation and the potential health risks are ways we can stay healthy and prolong our lives. Coffee and energy drinks may help you in the short run but in the long run, it takes a huge toll on your body.

Hypertension, anxiety disorder, and immunodeficiency are just a few of many diseases you may develop from lack of sleep. Recent studies also indicate that it takes more than a week to recover from just a few days of sleep deprivation. So, sleeping in on the weekends won’t cut it for lack of sleep during the week. Getting quality sleep is the best way to ensure you don’t suffer from sleep deprivation.

How can you change your habits to get quality sleep?

1. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule every day, including the weekends. This will help your sleep cycle get into a habitual routine.
   
2. Know how to put other things aside and go to bed when bedtime comes. Your sleep should come first amongst other things. Let your body rest and give it a break. This will also help the people around you realize that sleep is important.
   
3. Don’t drink or consume caffeine within 8 hours of bedtime and alcohol within 4 hours of bedtime.
   
4. Sleep Foundation suggests that adults get 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.
   

You want the best for your health, and making sleep a priority is a good first step. Whole Health covers physical, mental, social, financial, and medical areas of your health. By working on getting quality sleep, you will be able to positively impact other areas of your health.

Living It Up Anywhere

The idea of living your best life can be done anywhere, at any time, and all it really takes is a mindset shift. Take it one core lifestyle habit at a time, whether that is eating healthy and less, daily exercise, quitting bad habits, getting a routine checkup, or being positive. Take a chance today to Live It Up!