The benefits of a good night’s sleep during your weight loss vacation

Everyone knows how it feels to wake up after an excellent night’s sleep, feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. But did you know that there are also a number of additional benefits to getting a solid slumber? Ensuring that you get a quality night’s sleep during your weight loss vacation can play an important role in your overall health. Consider these benefits of getting a good night’s sleep during your next wellness retreat.

1. Improves brain function – When you fall into a deep sleep, your brain is resting, recalling and preparing. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, while you are sleeping your brain is preparing for the following day by establishing new pathways to aid in learning, storing and recalling new information. Studies have shown that a quality night of sleep can improve the way that you learn a new skill, master a new theory or perform in your tennis match. In addition to enhancing learning, sleep also aids in attention, problem-solving and creativity, according to the source. During your weight loss vacation, brain function is crucial as you master new exercises and digest new health concepts.
2. Maintains emotion well-being – The National Institutes of Health’s April 2013 monthly newsletter, NIH News in Health, reported that a loss of sleep not only leads to lower productivity and attention to detail, but can also affect your mood and consequently interfere with the way that you interact with others. When you aren’t fully rested, you’re more likely to encounter issues controlling emotions and behavior. According to the source, those experiencing sleep deficits for an extended period of time have a higher chance of developing depression. When you’re consistently getting a good night’s sleep during your wellness retreat, you’ll feel better emotionally and have a better chance of building healthy relationships.
3. Contributes to a healthy weight – Sleep is critical to your overall physical health. Research has shown that a lack of sleep heightens the risk for infections as well as heart disease and obesity, according to NIH News in Health. In terms of obesity, research continues to find that there is a link between sleep disorders and weight gain. The National Sleep Foundation reported that sleep apnea especially is often linked to those who are overweight. The ensuing daytime tiredness from sleep apnea can lead to a lack of motivation to exercise and maintain one’s health. A lack of shut eye can also lead to overeating. Getting a good night’s sleep during your weight loss retreat is key for maintaining a healthy weight.
4. Enhances performance – Getting a quality night’s sleep will improve the way that you function throughout the day, according to the NHLBI. The deficiency of even just an hour or two per night over the course of several days can take a toll, leading to slower reaction times and lack of concentration. These factors can play a role in your overall daily safety when it comes to tasks such as driving, operating machinery or taking care of loved ones. By improving the duration and quality of your sleep, you’re enhancing your daily performance, which in turn will enhance your life. Sleep better so that you can live better.

Getting a good night of quality sleep has more benefits than one.

Now that you know the benefits of a good night’s sleep during your healthy vacation, you’re likely interested in what exactly that looks like. So what constitutes a solid night of shut eye?

Getting enough sleep
Today, the majority of people do not get the recommended amount of sleep each night. Even more concerning is the increase of external stimulants that can interfere with the body’s natural sleep and wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, according to the NSF.

These stimulants include caffeine, sugar, alarm clocks and light from electronic devices. According to the foundation, research cannot give an exact number of hours for the amount of sleep necessary for people of a given age, but experts can provide a recommended window. The NSF advised that adults between the ages of 26 and 64 should be getting somewhere between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. A new category has also been added, suggesting that adults over the age of 65 only need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep each night.