Bad Sleep Is Hurting Your Family
It’s tough to do everything your family needs from you if you’re not well-rested.
As dads, we’re always working on something.
Whether it’s doing “actual” work late into the night, fixing things around the house, or helping our kids put something together, we’re putting in long hours and burning the candle at both ends.
Unfortunately, that catches up to us when all of this work cuts into the time we should be resting and sleeping.
In this post, I’ll talk about the importance of sleep, why you need to make it a priority, and how you can get a better night’s rest.
Sleep Is Good For Your Brain
There’s a reason we feel so groggy when we don’t get enough sleep: our brains need time to recover from the day they just had, as well as prepare for what comes tomorrow (and there will be something else that needs doing).
On top of that, sleep deprivation can actually lead to impaired thinking and judgment. So if you’re trying to make decisions when you’re exhausted, you might not be making the best choices.
Sleep Aids in Muscle Recovery
Not only is sleep good for your brain, but it’s also great for your body. When you’re sleep-deprived, your muscles don’t recover as quickly from a workout or an injury.
In fact, sleep deprivation can even lead to increases in cortisol (the stress hormone) and inflammation. So if you’re trying to get fit or heal an injury, getting enough sleep is key.
Lack of Sleep Increases Odds of Health Problems
It’s not just your brain and muscles that suffer when you don’t get enough sleep — your overall health is at stake as well.
People who are chronically sleep-deprived are more likely to have heart problems, obesity, and diabetes. Additionally, they are at increased risk for anxiety and other mental health disorders.
They’re also more prone to accidents and mistakes at work.
How to Get a Better Night’s Sleep
Now that you know why sleep is important, here are some tips on getting a better night’s sleep.
- Keep your bedroom cool and dark at night (if needed use sleep masks or eye covers) to signal sleepiness to the brain.
- Create a routine of going to bed around the same time every night so your body knows it’s time to sleep.
- Avoid screens before bedtime so your brain doesn’t think you’re still in daytime mode.
You should also get up at the same time every morning, even on weekends and days off. This will help keep your body from thinking that sleep is optional or a luxury instead of a necessity.
If you can’t seem to sleep well no matter what you do, it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor. They might be able to help identify an underlying sleep disorder or suggest other strategies that can help you get more restful sleep.
Tl;dr
If you want to be healthy, you need to make sleep a priority.
If you don’t, it will be impossible to do all of the things your family relies on you for.
And if you liked the above post, head over to the Vibrant Dad website.
