The Benefits of Sleep Even More Important for Women

As important as it is for both genders (and all ages), women need the benefits of sleep even more than their male counterparts.

No one is specifically saying women are smarter…but science proves the brains of women definitely work harder.

“For women, poor sleep is strongly associated with high levels of psychological distress and greater feelings of hostility, depression, and anger,” explained Loughborough University professor Jim Horne.  He further clarified that these emotional side effects are not common in men with similar sleep patterns.

Female brains are more complex.

Said Professor Horne, “Women tend to multi-task and so they use more of their actual brain than men do.  Their sleep need is greater.”

Sleep is when your brain rests, recovers from your day, repairs damaged tissue, and solidifies your memories and experiences.

Men with a highly-detailed job or daily life may require more sleep than other men – but still not as much as a woman.

Eight Hours May Not Be Enough

To get the best benefits of sleep, a good rule of thumb is eight hours per night.  While most sleep experts claim that seven hours is sufficient, that might not be the case for women.  Some women may require a bit more (not less) than those eight hours.

9 Ways Sleep Deprivation Affects You

1.You have a higher risk of fatigue-related accidents

2. Your brain cognition suffers (less ability to focus or recall simple information)

3. Your immune system lags, leaving you more susceptible to colds and infections

4. Your risk of major health problems – particularly heart disease and diabetes – goes up

5. Your overall mood can feel “all over the place” and your libido suffers

6. You have difficulty controlling your weight

7. You’re hungry all the time due to higher levels of ghrelin (the hunger hormone)

8. Your skin doesn’t look vibrant or healthy

9. You have a much higher risk of premature death

The benefits of sleep affect so much more of your body than you might be aware.  Not getting enough of it affects you physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Sleep deprivation throws off your motor skills and ability to make simple decisions.  It can make you unusually impulsive or reactionary.  Prepare for awkwardness because your usual filtration system between what you think and what you say is too slow.

Depriving yourself of sleep doesn’t earn you a badge of honor. There’s nothing good about it and if cutting back on sleep is something you do often – your cells are suffering.

You can feel it immediately, the morning after, but you need to be particularly concerned about the long-term damage to your brain, heart, and hormonal balance.

Changing Your Thinking

An occasional sleepless night is something all of us deal with (especially if you’re a new parent) but months or years of less sleep than you need can and will affect every aspect of your health.

If you’re a caregiver to another person, sleep is even more critical.  Try to arrange times that friends, family, or neighbors can give you breaks to sleep.  Such a job drains you mentally and emotionally but a good night’s sleep can do wonders.

It’s when you could sleep but choose not to sleep that you need to reset your thinking.

Adding more sleep to your daily life is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve every aspect of your mind, body, and spirit.  It’s an essential human need but too many people ignore it to screen binge or spend a night out with friends.

5 Steps to Get the Full Benefits of Sleep

1. Plan for 8 hours per night and stick to it (even on the weekends)

2. Make your sleep space as comfortable as possible

3. No screens in your bed (I know, this is a hard one)

4. Avoid eating or drinking anything but water a couple of hours before bed

5. Calm your mind through meditation – eyes closed, laying down

You need the benefits of sleep to keep yourself healthy and happy.

If you’re a woman, you need them a little bit more than the men in your life.  You know…because you have a more complex brain, doing all kinds of stuff men’s brains don’t usually do. Like managing your life as well as the lives of everyone around you.

You’re incredible! Stay that way by giving your body the sleep it needs.