As life gets busy, sleep is one of the first things to go when people feel pressed for time.
A poor night’s sleep can affect concentration, mood, and memory the next day, but did you know that regular insufficient sleep can put your long-term health at risk.
Although science is only recently making the connection between insufficient sleep and chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and weight gain, most experts have concluded that getting enough high-quality sleep may be as important to health and wellbeing as good nutrition and physical activity.
For many, getting enough sleep is easier said than done. Sometimes the external environment can play a role, such as too much light in the room, incorrect temperature, and disturbances from pets.
These issues are usually easily dealt with and should be minimised to get a good night’s sleep.
Most disruptions leading to chronic poor sleep are internal, either to the body (physical disruption) or the mind (mental disruption).
Physical disruptions can be linked to breathing problems and if this is the case for you, it is worth seeking medical help.
Mental disruptions can occur when the mind is too active for sleep. If you have difficulty getting to sleep, or staying asleep because of an overactive mind, check out this Fact Sheet from the Sleep Health Foundation: Ten Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep. There is a wealth of resources on this website, so if poor sleep is an issue for you, take a good look around and you might find exactly what you need.
