Seriously, why is sleep so important?
It’s time to be honest with yourself: how much sleep are you actually getting each night? More specifically, how many of those hours are actually quality ones?
The reason why we’re kicking off today’s blog with a reality check is that the importance of sleep is hugely underestimated in today’s society; especially when we’re constantly being told to keep going, keep hustling and work harder.
The average adult needs anywhere from seven to nine hours of sleep each evening but sadly, many of us barely meet this quota! Between work demands, poor sleep hygiene, daily stressors and family needs, there are many factors in our day-to-day life that are just waiting to steal another hour away from us.
Now, while we can’t make those extra hours of snooze time magically reappear, we can talk about why it’s so important to prioritise your sleep. In this article, we’ll be sharing the must-know reasons why quality sleep should be a total non-negotiable in your life and how we’re helping you achieve it.
A sharper and more creative mind
Do you find that after a poor night’s sleep, that you struggle to remember important details or seriously struggle to flex your creativity? You’re not alone! When people are running on empty, the brain has a terribly tough time taking in new information, let alone retaining it.
The brain has two sides – the right and the left side. The right side is renowned for being behind your creativity and imagination where the left is where your more analytical and structured behaviours arise from. While the two sides are known for very different functions, they work together to achieve the best outcomes.
When we achieve our much needed hours of quality sleep, our brain can perform at its best and both sides can work their hardest without feeling foggy. This is why many will mention that their most creative or profound ideas come to them in the middle of the night or after a long, restful sleep – they’ve given their brain the chance to properly rest and be prepared to take on the next challenge!
Good sleep, good mood, good day!
It’s no coincidence that a poor night’s sleep can lead to irritability throughout the day.
When we have a lack of sleep, our brain’s prefrontal cortex has a harder time controlling the amygdala, the epicentre of emotions, motivation, and emotional behaviour within our brain. The less sleep we get, the more reactive these emotions are, which is why you’ll notice the likes of negativity, mood swings, stress, anxiety, and irritability show up more prevalently after a bad night.
The role of sleep and our emotions doesn’t stop there. If you’ve experienced a particularly stressful or emotional day, there’s a chance that you’ll feel more ready than ever for sleep that evening. It’s important to allow yourself that much-needed rest time as this is when your body’s stress hormones, the most prominent being cortisol, can function at a much more controlled level.
Time for repair and rejuvenation
While we’re on the topic of cortisol, let’s dive deeper into how quality sleep supports healthy repair and rejuvenation of some of our major physical functions.
When we’re asleep, the lowering of cortisol allows our blood pressure to decrease, which not only supports our stress levels but also provides our heart and its supporting vessels to recoup. When we don’t get enough sleep, this shortens the amount of time our blood pressure can lower in a 24-hour period which can contribute to more serious concerns such as heart disease and stroke.
If you love getting in the gym, sleep is of utmost importance to you as this is dedicated time for your body to repair and rejuvenate after the high-intensity stress some forms of exercise put on your body. Those seven to nine hours of sleep each night is your body’s opportunity to ease muscles that need repairing and equip you with the motivation and energy to bring to your next workout. Quality sleep reduces our risk of injury and ensures our muscles can perform at their best.
One important factor that contributes positively to quality sleep is the proper regulation of body temperature. There is a definitive connection between a restful night’s sleep and a regulated body temperature, which is why we worked hard to develop the perfect bedding that not only supports healthy skin and hair but also give you the best night’s sleep ever.
Unlike cotton, our bamboo lyocell sheets and duvet covers are naturally thermoregulating and moisture-wicking, which works hard to keep your body at the ideal temperature through the night.
By maintaining a lower body temperature at night, we’re able to fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer which is why choosing bedding that helps to keep that temperature consistent is the key to a good night’s sleep.
Looking for the perfect quality sleep solution?
Improve the quality of your sleep with our temperature regulating, silky smooth bedding options, available in high-grade Mulberry silk or our vegan bamboo lyocell options. Visit our product catalogue page for a variety of bedding products including pillowcases, bedsheets, duvet covers and sleep masks - all available in a selection of stylish colours to suit any bedroom style.