Tired? How Sleep Helps Your Mental Health

We hear it all the time: “I’m just so tired!” or “I didn’t sleep well” or “I was up too late last night.” While it is popular and sometimes useful to burn the midnight oil, psychologists in Littleton know that sleep should not be considered a luxury. In fact, it is an important part of your physical and mental health, and helps you to be ready to manage a challenging or stressful day . Read on to find out why sleep should be a priority.

Think Faster. Do you ever feel like time speeds up in the afternoon? The clock tells you it doesn’t, but it seems like time is going faster because your brain is moving slower. In fact, after about 18 hours without sleep, your response time drops to about the performance of someone who is legally intoxicated! For the fastest thinking, make sure to rest up.

Think Better. Maybe you don’t want to think at lightning fast speeds, but you do want to make good decisions, right? When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain struggles to do just this. Tired brains are more likely to miss details and connections, choose impulsively, or forget important information. For the best brain performance, make sure to give it plenty of rest!

Improve Mood. Ever find yourself feeling snappy, irritable, and miserable after a long day at work? You may not want to admit it, but you might be acting like a cranky toddler. We know that cranky toddlers do better after a nap, and the same is true for cranky adults. If you feel like nothing is going your way, but everybody is in your way, ask yourself if you are truly rested and energized for the day.

Sleeping can be a challenge for any busy professional, but most find that they can find restful sleep by practicing good sleep hygiene  techniques. For some, sleep is almost impossible to get. If you struggle with restless nights and lack of sleep, you may benefit from counseling in Highlands Ranch. You can improve your life, improving your sleep! Contact Dr. Steve Lazarus today to get started.