Why Good Sleep Is Food For The Brain: A List Of Cognitive Issues That Can Result From Lack Of Sleep, And What You Can Do To Improve Sleep Quality

We often hear about the physical effects caused by lack of sleep, such as a lowered immune system and digestive issues, but frequently getting a poor-quality night’s sleep can also cause psychological issues.

A bad night’s sleep can be down to a number of things, from the comfort of your bed, to the noise and light coming into your room, to external stressors from your job or your personal life. Here are just some of the problems you might encounter if you aren’t getting enough sleep at night:

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Poor Memory

If you’re having problems falling asleep or are constantly waking up during the night, then your brain’s ability to retain information will be significantly impacted. REM sleep in particular is an important stage for solidifying our memories, but if you’re not spending much time in the REM stage, then you can expect to struggle more with your memory.

This was proved in a study which found that when two groups of people were assigned the same task, those who were allowed to sleep before repeating the task performed better when doing so the second time, having processed the information while they were asleep.

Mental Health Issues

You may just think that you’re not a ‘morning person’, but your irritability when getting out of bed in the morning could actually be a direct result of not having a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep can cause a range of different psychological issues, from depression, to anxiety, irritability and psychotic episodes.

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Reduced Creativity

Since lack of sleep effects your ability to think clearly and concisely, those who aren’t sleeping enough are more likely to struggle with problem-solving skills and thinking outside of the box. If your job involves some degree of creativity, then you may find yourself struggling more than normal.

Lack Of Awareness

Like being in a creative rut, if you find that your brain is feeling cloudy and it’s hard to see the clarity in things, then you may not be getting a good enough sleep at night. You may struggle more with multitasking, making decisions and become more easily distracted.

What Can I Do To Improve My Sleep Quality?

First thing’s first, you should make sure your bedroom is best optimised for a good night’s sleep. A comfortable bed is one of the most important determining factors to help you sleep at night, so getting a new bed might be the answer to your problems.

Bed Kingdom offer a huge range of beds, including single beds, double beds, king size beds and even super king size. With different spring and filling types, as well as mattresses of varying levels of firmness, you’re guaranteed to find a bed which is perfect for you. To find out more about what Bed Kingdom have to offer, check out Bedkingdom.co.uk.

You should also make sure you keep caffeine consumption to a minimum, and aim to drink your last cup of coffee at least 6 hours before you’re planning on going to sleep. Try not to use electronics that emit blue light like your phone for around two hours before bed, and keep your room cool, dark and quiet.