Don't Skimp on Sleep

You have so much to do and so little time to do it. Of course, you have to find a way to get it all done. Do you steal sleep time, thinking one less hour won't hurt you? Think again!

Cutting back on sleep—even one hour—can make it hard to focus and slows your response time. When you slack on sleep, your judgment is impaired. This can result in lower performance at work and a higher risk for dangerous situations like car accidents.

Health problems linked to lack of sleep

Skimping on sleep is never a wise choice. Lack of sleep has been linked to chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression. Short-changing sleep also negatively impacts your immune system, mood, alertness and the way you think.

The National Sleep Foundation found that 39 percent of American adults get less than seven hours of sleep each night—well below the seven to nine hours sleep experts say you should get. The amount of sleep you get is as important as the quality of your sleep, which should be continuous and without interruptions. You need to have continuous sleep so you’ll feel refreshed and alert for the day ahead.

Lack of sleep takes its toll

Not sleeping enough has serious side effects. Here are six reasons why you should make sure that you are getting enough sleep:

1. Learning and memory — Sleep helps you learn and remember new information. Research shows that people who sleep after learning and doing mentally challenging tasks do better on tests later.
2. Metabolism and weight — Hormones released during sleep affect how the body uses energy. Long term lack of sleep may cause weight gain and affect your appetite.
3. Safety — Too little sleep can lead to a greater chance of falling asleep during the daytime for split seconds, causing mistakes and accidents.
4. Mood — Lack of sleep can make you grouchy, impatient, moody, depressed and unable to focus.
5. Cardiovascular health — Continued sleep deprivation has been linked to high blood pressure, higher stress hormone levels and irregular heartbeat.
6. Disease — Not getting enough sleep alters your immune system. During sleep your body makes hormones that fight infections and repair cells and tissues. If you aren't sleeping as much as you should, you may be more likely to develop chronic diseases and other medical conditions.