When was the last time you got a full night's sleep?
Maybe you're one of those unicorns who is able to get a solid 8-9 hours every night.
More likely, you typically end up with somewhere around 6-8, not entirely restful, and you feel the effects of it each day.
You already know that when you're tired, you're also more irritable and easily frustrated. You probably snap at your husband and kids more than you'd like, or maybe you are more sensitive and tend to cry more easily.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, sleep deprivation can affect your:
- Heart and circulatory systems: Sleep deprivation has long-term damaging effects on your heart and circulatory health. People with chronic sleep deprivation are more likely to develop high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia).
- Metabolic systems: People with chronic sleep deprivation are at a much higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
- Immune system: Your body’s natural defenses against infections can’t work properly if you aren’t getting enough sleep.
- Nervous system: It’s common for people who aren’t sleeping enough to have higher pain sensitivity, which means they feel pain more easily, the pain is more intense or both.
- Brain: Sleep deprivation has very negative effects on how your brain works. While experts don’t fully understand sleep’s role in brain function, they do know it’s a key part of how people learn and remember. There’s also some evidence that sleep deprivation could play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Mental health: Sleep deprivation also negatively affects your mental health, making it harder for you to manage and process your emotions. People with sleep deprivation are more likely to feel symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The world will tell you that self-care consists of taking baths, regular massages, getting pedicures, making sure you have plenty of "me" time to do whatever you want.
While it's true that indulging in activities God has programed you to enjoy (like reading, painting, or crafting) can absolutely help you feel refreshed, the self-care you NEED to make sure you protect each day includes getting plenty of sleep.
In order to care well for your family, be able to process and manage your emotions well, to respond biblically to situations that could otherwise cause you to lash out or spiral, you need to care for your body by ensuring you get adequate sleep.
This can be difficult if your schedule is crazy like mine is (having a husband on the management team of a car dealership involves insane hours), or if you find yourself having racing thoughts each nights.
To help you develop a habit of getting better sleep daily, I've created a FREE Sleep Checklist for you to download! Check off as many things that you're already doing, and check out some ideas of other ways to help you get better sleep each night.
Is sleep something that you are intentional about protecting, or do feel like that's an area of struggle for you?
To download your free printable with all the Daily Habits of a Godly Wife, click here!
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