Everyone needs sleep. While age, activity level, genetics, and other personal characteristics determine just how much is needed, most of us require at least 8 hours per night, if not slightly more, for optimal health. However, many people happily boast about their ability to get by on only a few hours of sleep per night. Others think they must miss out on a full night’s sleep to succeed in school, at work, or on the playing field. This almost population-wide sleep deprivation is having major deleterious effects on our health, wellbeing, and productivity. But why is it that wee need at least 8 hours of sleep per night? While are many answers to this complicated question, here are 4 compelling reasons.

1. Sleep is vital for learning and processing memories.

While you may feel as though you are resting during sleep, your brain is incredibly active, cycling through multiple stages. Research has found that these stages help us to process our memories, make sense of our day, and learn new things. Without enough sleep, these functions suffer, causing issues such as poor academic performance and lower work productivity.

Higher levels of magnesium in the body are associated with better sleep, longer sleep times, and less tiredness during the day. If you’re looking to take magnesium for better sleep, you can find the · top magnesium brands here.

2. Sleep helps you perfect your motor skills.

Not only does sleep help with our memory and mental learning, it is also essential for learning motor skills. So if you’re trying to perfect your half-court shot, nail a tricky guitar solo, or paint like Picasso, adequate sleep is a necessity. While it may seem counterintuitive to forego practice for sleep, it may just be the key to your success.

3. Adequate sleep keeps your immune system strong.

According to recent research, sleep helps to keep your immune system strong. This is integral for protection against viruses, reducing inflammation, and fighting off infections. If you find yourself run down and susceptible during cold and flu season, lack of sleep may be playing a role.

4. Inadequate sleep can contribute to obesity, disease, and early death.

Lack of sleep causes a cascade of responses in the human body which affect our health and wellbeing. Sleep loss has been implicated as a risk factor for obesity, heart disease, breast cancer, diabetes, and more. Recently, it has even been linked as a predictor of death! So, if you’re hitting the gym daily and eating salads for dinner but are skimping on sleep, you may want to adjust your routine. In addition, those who have loved ones who recently passed away may consider checking out online memorial services at https://finalresting.com/.

In all, sleep is a necessity for our health, wellbeing, productivity, learning, memory, and motor skills. So the next time you find yourself up late cramming for a test or preparing for a big meeting, you may want to think about counting sheep instead! For more sleep tips and updates, be sure to follow us on Facebook!