I’m sure many can relate to staying up late at night in this day and age. Be it for school, work or, entertainment reasons, sleeping late has become a routine amongst students and adults today. As much as few manage to get 8 hours of sleep every day, there is still a need to emphasise the importance of getting sufficient sleep!

1. Affects your overall health

A common practice that most of us are guilty of is completing our unfinished tasks in the wee hours of the night, with coffee being our best accompaniment. While this may seem productive and save you a great deal of trouble from not meeting deadlines, it is detrimental for both your physical and mental health in the long run.

Without adequate sleep, one is more prone to a state of lethargy. This is primarily because your body is short of the required energy level for you to function at maximum capacity. Needless to say, lack of sleep comes with a myriad of health problems that you won’t notice in the short run.

Moreover, mental health is also affected. With sleep deprivation, one lacks the needed focus and attention for various life commitments. Especially when it comes to important events such as a job interview or an examination the following day. This brings about a roller coaster of emotions ranging from anxiety, frustration, irritability, and more.

2. Increased proneness to accidents

Not getting the amount of sleep that you require reduces your mental alertness. As such, your attention to your surroundings gradually decreases. Accidents do not always have to be on the road. It could be small mistakes that you commit at work or home due to a decreased attention span. While some may feel that it’s rather far-fetched to claim that one is more likely to get into accidents from just lack of sleep alone, it is undeniably one possible factor.

3. Impairs mood

While this may not be applicable to every individual, studies have shown that lack of sleep brings about greater negative emotions as compared to positive ones. I’m sure some of us can relate to being forced to wake up to kick start the day despite yearning to sleep more. Definitely not a happy feeling and we are guilty of becoming easily irritable and frustrated as the day goes by. So don’t devalue the importance of sleep in your life!

Closing thoughts

With the growing pace of life, sacrifices are made. If you feel that it’s it highly impossible for you to get enough sleep, try alternatives such as taking power naps throughout the day! That way, it’s still better than not getting any sleep at all. Last but not least, always remember to prioritise your health!