We all know it’s important. We all look forward to it. We all often wish we could get more of it. 

And yet really devote enough time or value to it. 

Sleep is essential for our overall wellbeing, including our physical health and mental development. It’s one of the best natural medicines we can embrace. 

What are the real benefits of a good night’s sleep?

Our bodies do a lot when we sleep; they healing and protecting our blood vessels, they manage our weight and metabolism, they maintain a healthy hormone balance and they help us build a strong immune system. 

When we get a long, effective night’s sleep – around 8 hours for adults – we improve our: 

Physical health – Sleep has been proven to significantly improve and protect our physical health. Not only does it reduce the risk of health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes, it also helps us maintain a healthy weight. Obesisty is often linked to sleep deprivation. 

Recovery – Get less than 8 hours sleep and we increase our risk of injury- almost doubling it - according to recent studies on sportspeople. And since our body works hard when we’re asleep to repair sore muscles, if we don’t get enough sleep we won’t recover as well. 

Growth – A good night’s rest promotes healthy growth and development by building muscle mass and repairing tissue, as well as resetting all our internal systems. 

Immune System ­– Consistently losing out on sleep means our body is less equipped to fight infection and you are more likely to get ill. 

Personal Performance – Our personal performance is also positively affected by having enough sleep. 8 hours sleep means a faster reaction time, greater focus and increased productivity. Less than 7 hours significantly impacts our responsiveness, memory and decision making ability.

Appearance – There’s a reason it’s called ‘beauty sleep’! Just like the rest of our body, our skin is also revitalised when sleep, helping to reduce that tired looking skin and bags under our eyes. 

Getting the sleep we need 

The average adult needs around 8 hours sleep – regularly – to unlock the real benefits of this so often underrated medicine. 

Get it right, and it’s a natural pain relief that can transform every part of our mental and physical wellbeing. We stay healthier, we make better decisions, and we improve our outlook. 

We’re better equipped to deal with the challenges life throws at us.