Sleep Deprivation Has Consequences

You probably know the reasons to get enough sleep; getting enough sleep has direct positive impacts on your quality of life (you feel energetic and happy) and on your overall well-being (it's hard to be unhappy when you feel good).

According to a 2002 poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, over 80% of Americans agree that not getting enough sleep leads to difficulty getting along with others, increased risk of injury, and decreased performance at work. Lack of sleep makes it difficult to complete tasks, makes it difficult to concentrate, and increases the risk of making poor decisions and having poor reaction times (which can lead to driving accidents, for example).

Current numbers indicate that sleep deprivation is the cause of more than 100,000 vehicle crashes per year, resulting in 1500 deaths per year.

So what's one way to make sure you get enough sleep? Plan your life so that you can sleep enough to wake up without an alarm clock. If you need your alarm clock to wake you, it means you need more sleep than you've gotten that night.

Our needs for sleep change and fluctuate, so what worked well one year may not follow into the next. If you're feeling tired, irritable, and stressed out, this will reflect in your skin. Tiredness can make you look older, contributes to dark circles under your eyes, and can reduce the health and infection-fighting ability of your skin.

If you need more sleep, make a plan to get it. Your health (and skin!) will thank you.