Never underestimate the value of a good night’s sleep! With the stress and bustle of our daily lives, it can sometimes be difficult to maintain a proper sleep schedule. But that is no excuse for brushing off sleep and disrupting a steady cycle of rest.
At Sleep MD, the most advanced sleep institution in New York City, we believe that establishing a good sleep schedule can cure many of your daily stresses, woes, and underlying conditions that have cropped up as a result of sleep deprivation. It’s not just getting a good night’s sleep that’s important, but getting a good night’s sleep every night as part of a consistent pattern. Unfortunately, 50-60 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder, and a lack of sleep causes many of these disorders.
Read the short guide below to learn about the vital importance of setting yourself up with a consistent sleep schedule.
Listen to Your Body’s Clock
When you sleep, your body falls into circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are important for your body’s internal clock. This clock is responsible for regulating when you are asleep and awake, helping you maintain a consistent schedule. This clock starts to tick as the day grows late, and after dusk, melatonin is released from the body to make you feel tired.
This is your body’s way of trying to get you to stick with a consistent sleep schedule by making you fall asleep at the same time every night. Of course, there are some days where you may not get as much sleep as you should, and it leaves you feeling groggy and low on energy throughout the following day.
Tiredness isn’t the only symptom that can come as a result of a lack of sleep, though. Sleep deprivation leads to a myriad of health problems that only worsen the longer you go without establishing your healthy sleep schedule.
Symptoms of Lack of Sleep
Sleep deprivation can have some drastic results on your short-term and long-term health. Unfortunately, sleep deprivation is a common issue in our society, according to research done by Medical News Today. If you get less sleep than your body needs, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Fogginess
- Forgetfulness
- Inability to stay motivated
- Tripping and falling more often than normal
- Increased appetite for junk food, especially those with lots of carbohydrates
- Reduced libido
- Feelings of depression or moodiness
- Fatigue
- Constant yawning
These symptoms can lead to conditions of sleep apnea, advanced respiratory diseases, and a weakened immune system, which serves only to open doors for more ailments and conditions.
Developing a Consistent Sleep Schedule
For the betterment of your health and your overall well-being, it’s essential to develop a sleep schedule. But how can you develop and stick to a good sleeping schedule that works for you? Everybody’s ideal sleep-wake schedule is different, so finding the best sleeping methods might take a while. After you’ve found your sleeping stride, you need a way to stick to that new schedule.
Pick a specific time you want to be asleep by. If you want to be asleep by 10 PM, you should already have your teeth brushed and eyes closed by this time. It is challenging to stick to a schedule like this at first, but after some practice, you will get a better hold of your sleep time.
Use tools to your advantage! Keep alarms on your phone or set timers to help you stay in the habit of going to sleep and waking up at specific times.
Put Your Sleep Schedule in Your Own Hands!
Committing to a healthy sleep schedule can be difficult when you’re first starting out, but after sticking to a consistent pattern, your body will start to get used to this new normal. Visit the top sleep doctor in NYC to learn more about how to improve your sleep. Sleeping works wonders for your health, and a healthy sleep pattern can prevent many adverse conditions from developing. Give yourself plenty of time to manage your sleep and watch as your energy returns and you are feeling better than ever. That’s the power of a good night’s sleep!
