When it comes to taking care of yourself, getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do. From a physical standpoint, sleep recharges us to tackle the day ahead. From a mental health standpoint, though, getting enough sleep helps improve mood and enables us to tackle and cope with life’s stressors healthily.
You can never underestimate the importance of sleep, and today’s blog will aim to uncover why.
What Happens if You Don’t Get Enough Sleep
Before we dive into the benefits of restful sleep, let’s first analyze what happens when you don’t get enough sleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average adult needs to get at least “…7-8 hours of good-quality sleep.” Quality sleep, by this definition, refers to minimal interruptions, or any at all.
While you might be able to get away with fewer hours once in a while, habitual sleep problems can eventually lead to delayed reaction times, fatigue, poor judgment, difficulty concentrating, and a poor mood. It’s these consequences of sleep deprivation that can wreak havoc on your mental health and, unfortunately, affect other important aspects of your life, as well.
Benefits of Getting Enough Sleep
There are numerous benefits of getting enough sleep, especially regarding how they affect your mental health:
Here are the top three:
Helps You Manage Your Emotions
As briefly noted above, not getting enough sleep can lead to you being in a bad mood. When you’re in a bad mood, you’re also less likely to have a firm grasp on your emotions, possibly resulting in you having an explosive reaction to a minor stressor or inconvenience. An example might be yelling at the receptionist at your local doctor’s office if they forgot to get records from a specialist, or experiencing road rage when a driver cuts you off.
But, when you prioritize quality sleep, you’re putting yourself in a better spot mentally, so you can handle stressors like these healthily and without overreacting, which could only lead to bigger problems.
Increases Focus
When you go to sleep, your mind begins to repair itself and process information from the day’s events. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re not giving your brain the time it needs to do these things, which can put it off-kilter the following morning. This can negatively impair your brain’s ability to focus because it isn’t able to store the memories from the night before.
In essence, without enough sleep, your brain is going to spend the entire day playing catch up. Understandably, if your brain is focused on playing catch up, it’s not processing the information in front of you, leading to decreased focus. This is bad, of course, because you need to be able to focus… on your job, at home, while driving, cooking, and taking care of your pets/family. Being unable to focus can lead to mistakes, and in some cases, injuries caused by bad judgment or lack of awareness.
But when you get enough sleep, you’re allowing your brain to accomplish what it needs to get done so you’ll be more focused and have better concentration on the task at hand. You’ll also be safer.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Last but not least, getting enough sleep may actually help you manage your anxiety and depression better. Per the Better Health Channel, poor sleep, including not adhering to a schedule or experiencing insomnia, are often symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. Studies referenced on their website cite that “Sleeplessness and mood disorders are closely linked.”
If you practice good sleep hygiene and start to get quality, more restful sleep, it may put you in a position to better handle the other symptoms that stem from depression and anxiety such as nervousness, hopelessness, and irritability.
The importance of quality sleep can’t be overstated. If you’re struggling to prioritize sleep, start by shutting off your phone an hour before bed, limiting caffeine intake, and making your bedroom comfortable. For example, if you sit in your bedroom to do work, your brain may make an association that it’s where you need to stay awake instead of falling asleep. Little habit changes like this can go a long way in ensuring you get the sleep you need for better physical and mental well-being.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at [email protected] and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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