There's an infallible home remedy that can help you beat fatigue, bad moods, intense hunger, and lack of concentration. It's not a drug or a magic potion. Want to find out what it is? Keep reading!
This remedy is simply getting enough hours of sleep!
Lack of sleep is one of the worst enemies of good health: It increases your risk of suffering from diseases like diabetes or developing heart problems. But the effects of not sleeping aren't only evident long-term; not sleeping enough hours a day can turn your life into a true disaster!
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When we don't get at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night, our bodies simply stop working properly. Some symptoms of lack of sleep are:
Intense hunger: If you feel hungry most of the day, even after you've just eaten, the solution probably lies in getting more shut-eye. Various studies have uncovered a link between lack of sleep and hunger. When you don't sleep enough, our bodies produce more of the hormone that increases hunger. The worst part? This type of hunger demands foods that are high in carbs and calories.
Difficulty in concentrating: Do you forget everything when you haven't slept enough? Do you find it hard to concentrate and focus on any task? Not sleeping enough also affects our cognitive abilities.
Frequent colds: According to studies, people who sleep less than 7 hours a night are more likely to develop colds than people who sleep at least 8 hours per night. I don't need scientific evidence to believe this: The first symptom that I experience when I don't get enough rest is the start of a cold, which usually goes away once I recharge with sleep!
Belive it or not, increased klutziness: Lack of sleep affects our sense of balance. This is why we become more clumsy and are more prone to accidents when we don't sleep.
What can you do to get more shut-eye each night when there are so many responsibilities at home and at work?
I've spent years developing tricks to actually get more hours of sleep in each night. It may sound selfish, but the truth is that when I myself don't sleep, I suffer from all the above-mentioned symptoms (and then some!). Here are some of my tactics:
Before going to bed, I take some time out to be at peace. This is how I calm my mind and I avoid spending time thinking about stresses or going over things once I'm in bed. My goal is to go to sleep immediately. I almost always can do it–but if I realize that I'm having trouble reaching a deep sleep right away, I get up and prepare a nice, hot chamomile tea.
I fiercely protect my 8 hours of sleep. It's essential to learn to say "No." I try to be realistic about the amount of work that I can do during the day without sacrificing any time for my sleep.
I avoid activities that don't do anything for my well-being. Time spent doing nothing is key to relaxation. That's why I choose activities that relax me, instead of adding any stress to my life. For example, I don't watch action or violent movies after 9 p.m.–these will have an effect on my mental state, and I don't want anything messing with that so close to bedtime.
Try to put these into action, and you'll see how much more productive you'll be–and how easy it may become to lose weight!
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