Walking around in a daze and bumping into walls is a pretty good sign of not getting enough sleep. Thankfully, these kinds of symptoms don’t appear that often or in such extremes. Most of us feel that if we get at least some sleep during the night we’ll avoid sleep deprivation and the struggles that come along with it. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case…
However, symptoms of sleep deprivation do appear, and today we are covering 5 telltale signs – second to getting that info from your Leaf app of course.
Have you ever found yourself heading into the kitchen for a cup of joe and there’s none left? And before you can say Java-Mocha-Latte, you realize you’re in tears? Or laughing hysterically at…well…nothing? Don’t worry, this is entirely normal. Running on little or no sleep makes us more sensitive to external stimuli, and we might experience things more deeply than we normally would.
Our tip: Exercise is a great fix. Try logging in about 1 500 steps with the help of your Bellabeat device. The production of endorphins will help elevate your mood and wake you up a little.
You know how they say sufficient sleep aids weight loss? Unfortunately, it works the other way also – sleep deprivation can cause weight gain. When we sleep, our bodies use that time to recharge and replenish our energy levels. If we do not get enough sleep, our bodies try to get the extra energy from food and we start munching more than usual. Many people also eat out of pleasure and sometimes boredom (guilty, guilty). Nibbling on midnight snacks can be a reflexive way to pass the time in those wee hours of the night.
Our tip: Try one of Bellabeat’s mindfulness exercises, they really work. Prepare yourself a nice cup of soothing tea, find a comfortable position, and turn the lights down. Let yourself be guided by the Deep Sleep meditation and, if at first, it doesn’t seem successful, try again. You’ll find yourself dozing off very shortly.
Morning to-do list: wash your gym bag and pack your hair. Wait, what? If this has happened to you in some shape or form, you are not alone. Feeling dazed, confused and a lack of concentration are the most common signs of sleep deprivation. You might find it hard to get your work done and focus on tasks at hand, but the good news is that it’s nothing a few hours of extra Zs can’t fix.
Our tip: If this is a persistent issue and falling asleep is not the problem but finding the time is, it might be a good idea to take a sick day. Mental health is just as important as your physical health, not to mention many symptoms are psychosomatic and are the result of an overworked mind. Hit the snooze button, throw the covers over, and try log in at least 8 hours of sleep in your Bellabeat app. Your body will thank you for it.
This sort of picks up where we left off in point 3. Sleep deprivation affects your immune system and makes you more vulnerable to colds. In a study involving 153 healthy men and women, participants were given nasal drops containing the common virus and were monitored over the course of 14 days. The results showed those who had slept 7 hours or less were three times more likely to develop a cold than those who had at least 7.5 hours of sleep.
Our tip: If you are having trouble sleeping try out one of our Bellabeat meditations!
Oh, those pesky skin blemishes. Like feeling tired wasn’t enough. A lack of sleep can cause your skin to flare up and have you relive your teens all over again with blemishes, pimples, and bouts of acne.
Our tip: Along with what we’ve outlined above, we recommend getting enough water into your system. It will help flush out the toxins and restore your internal balance.
How do you feel when you don’t sleep enough? Share your experience in the comments below!
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