This Is What Actually Happens When You Don’t Get The Sleep You Need

Picture this: you’ve done so much for the day to the point that you feel tired and would just want to rest. But unfortunately, you can’t quite seem to get the most effective way for you to fall asleep quickly. Various reasons like overthinking or anxiety might cause this. It might also be because you’re simply uncomfortable with your surroundings.

Now, who doesn’t want a good night’s sleep? The way you sleep at night will heavily dictate how your disposition will be in the morning, and that’s exactly why quality sleep is very important for anyone to have.

Quantity and Quality Matters

Have you ever experienced waking up the next morning feeling like you’re not well-rested even though you’ve made sure that you got eight hours of sleep the night before? Well, then maybe it’s because you’ve sacrificed the quality of your sleep. A good-quality sleep is more than just making sure you get the necessary eight hours of shut-eye. Don’t take a good night’s rest for granted, as it could be a crucial factor to your health.

Effects of Not Getting Quality Sleep

What exactly happens to your body if you are not able to satisfy its sleeping requirements fully?

The most immediate feeling you may get is feeling absolutely exhausted the following day. This could impact your disposition significantly by affecting your focus and mood. There’s a high possibility that you’re going to feel irritated throughout the day and it could change how you deal with other people. That’s just after a day of not getting enough rest.

It is a continuous cycle that’s hard to break

But for sure, this is a habit that’s hard to break. One sleepless night could turn into two – and the next thing you know, it’s been weeks since you’ve last snoozed properly. The point is that you shouldn’t let more than two consecutive nights pass without you feeling great about your sleep. This will accumulate, and it’s going to be a dangerous trap that you could fall into easily! It will mess up your body’s normal circadian rhythm or body clock and it will be challenging putting it back to its original state.

It could affect your mental well-being

Now, this is where it could go downhill. After days of not getting the right amount and quality of sleep your body needs, your mental health is now at stake. Not only will you have a hard time focusing on your tasks, but you’ll also find it hard to make decisions. You will lose your capability to think quickly on your feet, as your mind could get clouded without the proper rest it should have received. At this point, it’s no surprise that you feel like your mood is always down and you want to take long naps during the day. It could then lead to long-time mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Yes, that’s all from not getting proper sleep!

If you think that only your mental health could be compromised, then you’re up for more. In the long run, your physical health could be affected too. Think of your body as a machine that can wear and tear after long-time maximal use without any shut-down for quite some time. The wearing and tearing will then naturally accumulate until you’d have to find another machine to replace it. The same principle happens with your body. It is when you’re asleep that the body repairs and heals itself. It’s kind of amazing to think of it that way, but your body is capable of doing so many things. All you have to do is to rest appropriately for it to be able to do just that.

And also, your physical health, too!

Excessive wearing and tearing of the body can lead to several illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. These are diseases that can be associated with your lifestyle habits. Although you may develop these illnesses because of the way you live, the good news is that you can help your body reverse these effects by changing your lifestyle too.

Sleep is probably the best gift you could give to your body. You might live in a fast-paced and cruel world, but it doesn’t mean that you have to abuse your body’s capabilities.

But it’s not too late to turn things around

The great news is that it’s never too late to catch up on your sleep. There are so many things you can do to help your body rest effectively. Invest in a bed that will make you feel comfortable while sleeping. Buy new comforter and sheets to pair the bed with. Put a bed fan in your room for fresher and cleaner air. The moment that you commit to improving your sleep, you’re making a decision to live healthier.