The importance of how the brain works when we sleep is still not fully understood, but there is no denying that we all feel better after a good quality night's sleep.

A good night's sleep = A Happier You

We all know that if you sleep well you feel happier the next day.

What can a good night's sleep do for you? 

Here are some of the life improvements we can all achieve with a commitment to achieving enough sleep each night.

According to a study carried out by the Sleep Council, Nearly half of us in the UK are getting just six hours sleep or less a night.

And an alarming four out of five people complain of disturbed or inadequate – or 'toxic' – sleep.

(Sleep Council 'Toxic Sleep' survey, January 2011)

Better Memory

Throughout the night we go through different types of sleep. When we are in deeper sleep Rapid-eye Movement (REM) and slow-wave sleep (SWS) occurs which is important for consolidation where the brain maintains, stores and modifies memories and they become part of your long term memories.

Learn Better

So with this in mind, it's no surprise that we learn better when we are well rested. A well-rested brain can learn and recall information far more readily than a sleep-deprived one.

So that's another good reason to put the kids in bed early to help them learn at school the next day! 

Better Skin

A study carried out by the Department of Dermatology in the US discovered that the individuals who slept better had less signs of ageing and their skin recovered more quickly after exposure to ultraviolet light compared to the group who didn't sleep as well. The well-rested group also perceived themselves in a more positive light compared to the group who did not get as much quality sleep. 

Maintain a Healthy Weight

The link between sleeping well (more than 7 hours a night on average) and having a healthy weight is becoming better understood. Although research is still ongoing it has been found that adults who sleep longer than 7 hours are less likely to be obese than those who don't. It is thought that lack of sleep affects the hormone ghrelin (which increases appetite) and leptin (which tells us we are full). This may also be the case in children too.

Sleepfoundation.org

Look More Attractive

Well here's a good one, if you sleep well you'll be perceived to look more attractive. I think that's something we'll all appreciate!

The British Medical Journal in 2010 carried out a study into sleep and attractiveness. A group of 23 people were photographed both after a good night sleep and when sleep deprived. These photos were then shown to another group of 65 people who were asked to rate them on health attractiveness and tiredness. The study found that the sleep deprived images were rated lower in all categories studied. 

So there you go, a good sleep is one of the best medicines.  In addition to these benefits mentioned here there are a whole host of other positives from sleeping well and being committed to being kind to yourself.