The Benefits of Sleep

By Maria Haymandou

It !improves !memory

• During sleep, your mind “consolidates”, strengthening memories or “practice” skills that you learned while awake!

• Your brain also helps reorganize and restructure these, which could result in more creativity by strengthening the emotional components of memory

It’s linked with longevity

• Too much or too little sleep is linked with a shorter lifespan!

• It’s still not 100% clear if that’s a cause or effect!

• Sleeping also helps curb inflammation, which is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis and premature aging

It gives you energy

• Studies of athletes indicate that more sleep increases average sprint time and stamina

It improves !your grades

• Children who have sleep disordered breathing (snoring, sleep apnea, etc) are more likely to have problems with attention and learning!

• College students that don’t get enough sleep also tend to have lower grades

It sharpens your

attention• A lack of sleep can

result in ADHD-like symptoms in children!

• Children who don’t get enough sleep a night are more likely to be hyperactive, inattentive and impulsive

It improves your weight • Well-rested dieters

lose more fat than those who are sleep-deprived

It lowers stress

• Sleep has been known to reduce levels of stress, giving people better control of their blood pressure as well!

• It’s also believed that sleep affects cholesterol levels

It helps you avoid accidents

• Drowsy driving is just as bad, if not worse, than drunk driving!

• The National Highway Safety Administration reported that it accounted for the highest number of fatal crashes in 2009

It helps fight depression

• A lack of sleep can contribute to depression!

• Good sleep means more emotional stability!

• You want to find a balance, so that means getting roughly the same amount of sleep every night