It’s no secret that sleep is vital for great overall health and well being. Along with making us feel more lively and energetic, sleep is essential for maintaining good cognitive skills such as memory and speech. Although you may notice the impact of a bad night’s sleep on your mood the next day, you may not have noticed that these effects can be experienced from as little as a few minutes to several week.
Your quality of sleep and mood are closely connected as sleep is a major factor that influences how you feel. This can then influence your emotions, behaviors and feelings which combined, have the potential to ruin a good day. In this article, we’ve shared four ways that sleep affects your mood and how to recognize why you might be experiencing different emotions:
Grogginess
One of the most common feelings when you’re running on a limited amount of sleep is grogginess. Because being tired makes you unable to control the muscles in your eyes as well as normal, it can also lead to a sense of imbalance and dreariness. Drowsiness is the equivalent of drink-driving, so it’s important to ensure that you’re getting the best possible rest for a safe and productive day.
Feeling Depressed
If you’re feeling down, it’s likely that your sleeping pattern could be to blame. This is because a hormone called serotonin is created when you sleep, which then creates melatonin; the chemical that promotes sleep. A chemical imbalance of these hormones can have a direct impact on your overall mood and energy. It can also influence your ability to fall asleep and have a quality rest.
Irritable and Angry
Experiencing feelings of irritability and anger isn’t uncommon for a sleep-deprived person. In fact, research has shown that when people aren’t getting the recommended hours of sleep, they’re more likely to feel irritable. People who are sleep-deprived have also reported decreased feelings of friendliness, a lack of empathy and an overall negative mood.
Creativity
Along with the benefit of consolidating memories or making them stronger, getting enough sleep at night can help you feel much more creative. This is because when sleeping, the brain appears to restructure and reorganise your memories, which could potentially spur the creativity process.
Getting Better Sleep
If you find yourself tossing and turning in the night (or simply cannot get comfortable!), here are some simple tips to get a better night’s sleep:
· Keep your bedroom dark and free of clutter for ultimate relaxation.
· Opt for bedding and linen that are made with organic materials, especially if you suffer with sensitive skin.
· Don’t charge your phone on your bedside table as the light from notifications can be distracting.
· Stick to a sleep schedule and try to go to bed at the same time every day.
As you can see, there are several ways in which a lack of sleep could affect your mood. To ensure that you’re getting the best rest possible, get yourself comfortable, comfy pillow and a cozy blanket. You’ll be off to sleep in no time!
Information provided by The Odd Mattress Company- who provide made to measure mattresses.
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