You may believe that taking naps or sleeping for seven hours a night takes away from your ability to be productive. However, there are many ways in which getting plenty of sleep can actually make you more productive over the long run. Let’s take a look at why this could be the case.
You Don’t Think Clearly When You’re Tired
You may have noticed that you are more likely to laugh, cry, or get angry when you are tired. This is because you have trouble regulating your emotions when you don’t get enough sleep. In fact, staying awake for 24 hours or longer can have the same impact as having a blood alcohol content of .10% or more.
Sleep Clears Away Toxins in the Brain
Scientists have recently discovered that sleeping can help to clear away toxins that can build up in the brain during your waking hours. Eliminating these toxins can help you think more clearly and improve your mood both now and over the long-term. Furthermore, some believe that dreams act as a way for the brain to consolidate your thoughts and help you retain knowledge obtained over the course of a day.
Quality of Sleep Matters
While you should try to sleep for at least seven hours a day, it is generally more important to get quality sleep. This typically means doing so in a relatively cool room that is as dark as possible. It is also a good idea to find a comfortable surface to sleep on whether it be a sofa, an air mattress or a memory foam gel mattress.
Sleep Is Better Than Caffeine
While caffeine can provide short bursts of energy, they are usually followed by a sugar crash. These crashes can cause headaches, confusion, and other health issues that you won’t get after waking up from a nap. It cannot be stressed enough that there is no substitute for sleep when your body is tired. At some point, your brain will override your body’s desire to stay awake. Therefore, taking a quick nap break now can prevent a myriad of problems that could hinder you for the rest of the day.
It isn’t uncommon for people to believe that staying awake for 18 to 20 hours a day is a sign that they are getting things done. However, the reality is that spending more time in bed could help you accomplish more of your goals each day.