Sleep. If you aren’t getting enough, it can be pretty hard-going. We caught up with sleep scientist and JAAQ contributor Dr Sophie for some quick tips for getting more kip.
Dr Sophie Bostock is a sleep expert. She’s passionate about helping more people optimise their sleep so they can improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
She’s answered loads of questions on sleep - from why we need it to how to get more - over on JAAQ.org. Here’s her quick tips on improving how much shut-eye you get.
What happens if I don’t get enough sleep?
We all know how it feels to not get enough sleep. In the short term, it’s nothing serious - we get a bit more irritable and forgetful. We might have difficulty focussing during the day, and we just lack energy. Most people will bounce back quickly after a couple of nights of recovery sleep.
The real problem with not getting enough sleep is when it persists over weeks or months at a time. That chronic lack of sleep can influence absolutely everything in your life. It influences your mental function, your emotional health and your physical health.
Think of any area of your life; if you aren’t sleeping enough that thing will get harder. Whether it’s focussing at work, being kind and empathetic to your family, or being speedy on the sports field, sleep helps us to get the best out of life.
