Sleep Is Healthy
Less Pain
If you're chronically sleep-deprived, you probably already know that you're more emotionally sensitive when you don't get enough zzz's. But studies have shown that you might also be more sensitive to pain. A recent study, published in Nature, found that in mice, loss of sleep made them more responsive to pain stimulus. Sleep debt over days exaggerated the pain responses.
Fewer Injuries
Being overly tired can also put you in danger. The Institute of Medicine estimates that 20 percent of auto accidents—about 1 million per year—are the result of sleepy drivers. For kids and teen athletes, sleep deprivation has been linked to some injuries in a recent study. In a consensus statement, sleep experts from around the world stated that sleep deprivation is the most common identifiable reason for injury in transportation and the workplace.
Better Mood
Sleep deprivation messes with our ability to be neutral, according to a recent study out of Israel. What this means is that things which may be a little off seem very off to someone who has built up a sleep deficit. The brain's ability to regulate emotions is compromised without enough sleep. That means getting enough sleep can boost your mood, just like that.
Losing Weight Is Easier
Ever notice when you're super tired, all you want to do is eat (and eat carbs?). That's by design. The same hormone that regulates hunger, leptin, is suppressed when you don't get enough sleep. So, that ravenous hunger, one that has you craving doughnuts and pizza? You can make it go away by taking a nap—and getting enough sleep in the future.
You'll Think Clearly
We tend to think of sleep as a way of recharging our brain, like a battery. In reality, sleep does a whole lot more, all of which helps us think more clearly the next day. The National Sleep Foundation says studies on humans have shown that sleep helps the brain synthesize new ideas, not just remember old ones:
"While you're sleeping, pieces of knowledge can be pulled together from different experiences and parts of the brain to create novel concepts or 'aha' moments."
Instead of staying up late to chase your next big idea, maybe go to sleep instead.
Improves Memory
Hours of solid shut-eye give the brain a chance to reorganize all of the day's input in a more efficient way, which makes future recall stronger and easier. In this way, sleep boosts your memory. As any sleep-deprived parent, student or employee of a fledging startup will tell you, lack of sleep is the best way to forget just about anything.
