Why is sleep so important?
There are many things we don’t understand about why we sleep. We do know that sleep helps to restore and repair our bodies and provides an opportunity for our brain to clear out and process the events of the day.
In the next section, we explain a bit about some of these important functions.
Physical health
It’s not called beauty sleep for nothing…
During sleep, hormones are released that support different bodily functions. This includes our growth, strength, and other aspects of our physical development.
Sleep also boosts our immune system and can help avoid those pesky spots and blemishes.
A good sleep routine will help to make your skin clearer, eyes brighter, and hair thicker and less greasy.
Getting the right amount of sleep also makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight as it helps to control the appetite and reduces cravings for sugary junk food.
Performance
Having good quality sleep is vital to perform well and reach your potential. During sleep, your body repairs tissue and restores your energy levels.
Having a good night’s sleep means you’ll be faster, with better coordination, improved reaction times, and increased mental and physical stamina.
You will also recover quicker from injuries. Some of the best athletes in the world often talk about how important a good sleep routine is.
Sleep also improves memory and learning. Lack of sleep will make it harder to concentrate and remember important things. After a poor night’s sleep, anything you learnt yesterday could be gone today – the last thing you need when you have an exam!
During sleep, your brain is processing all the information you’ve received throughout the day, forming memories and keeping them for later.
Doing certain activities when sleep deprived (such as driving) is actually very dangerous. Because your reaction times become much slower, it increases the risk of mistakes and accidents.
Managing emotions
You’re more likely to feel down when you are tired. Sleep’s restorative function in ‘recharging’ the brain at the end of each day supports our ability to manage and cope.
Just having one bad night’s sleep can make you feel low, emotional, and grumpy the next day. So when we have consistently poor sleep, it can become really difficult to regulate our emotions.
Getting a good quality night’s sleep and having a consistent routine can help you to cope better with the stress of life such as exams, parents and relationships.
You’ll feel better in yourself and be able to manage your feelings and emotions in a more balanced way.
Recognising and sorting out sleep problems as soon as they are identified is important to reduce the risk of anxiety and depression.
Page last reviewed: 7 February, 2024