Getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night is crucial for us to have a healthy and fulfilling life and while some might say they can operate normally with a lot less, science does not quite agree.
With January Blues in full swing, it can be tricky to get the right amount of sleep - studies have even shown that this month is the worst for poor snoozing habits. Busy work schedules or having kids around means the full eight hours might seem like a faraway dream.
Even when we do finally get under the duvet for some shut eye, a lot of us lay awake with thoughts whirring around inside our heads about what the next day brings. Getting fewer than seven hours a night can be damaging, according to Dr Sara Kayat.
Speaking to Mirror Online, she said: "Sleep is a lot more significant than people realise.
"It's not just that you're going to wake up feeling a bit groggy, it's got long term potential affects on your body.
"Sleep is instrumental to better brain and body function. It really is a priority."
Another thing that many people are unaware of is that sleep in vital for our brain to process information we've gathered throughout the day.
"In terms of physically, sleep allows the body to repair.
"We need sleep in order to consider memories and process information.
"If you've not had time to do these things a lot of our memories and information we learned the previous day does not get processed."
More worrying, a lack of sleep can also lead to an increased change of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
But it's not just our physical health that is impacted by how much sleep we get.
Sara explains: "Your focus and motivation at work the following day will probably be waring. The next day you're going to feel cranky and you not able to tolerate things.
"But if this is across a long term basis you're probably going to have low mood and anxiety."
One of the affects of these things is difficulty sleeping.
"It become this horrible, vicious cycle that you really can't get out of."
Sara suggests going to your GP if you feel you are in this cycle, who may recommend you for CBT therapy.
One of the most common techniques involves writing down all the things that are worrying you before you go to bed. You then park them, telling yourself that you will think about them again in the morning.
Sara says: "You can put those intrusive things aside and hopefully get a better night sleep."
Tips for dropping off if you have trouble sleeping
Professor Colin Espie, Professor of Sleep Medicine at the University of Oxford, has shared his top tips for getting to sleep easier.
Prioritise your sleep. Sleep is often the first thing to be sacrificed when you are busy, however maintaining a consistent sleep schedule will aid regulating your body clock and help you fall asleep easier and make it easier to get up.
Switch it off! Try and avoid screens and stimulus before bed, such as going on your phone or watching something on your laptop. Electronic devices stimulate the brain, which make it harder to fall asleep.
Write it down. If you find yourself lying awake at night worrying about what might happen tomorrow, then try writing those worries down and tell yourself that you’ll address them in the morning.
Make your bedroom an environment where you feel comfortable, and where you can relax. If possible, remove work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment so that you don’t get distracted.
Try and avoid consuming caffeine in the late afternoon and evening. Caffeine is a stimulant that causes alertness, which will make it difficult to wind down before bed. Try replacing this with a herbal tea or warm milky drink instead to help your mind relax.
Whilst alcohol might help to induce sleep in the short term, it reduces the quality of sleep in the long run. This can lead to you feeling tired the next day regardless of how long you were in bed for.
Get moving. Exercise can improve the quality of your sleep and contribute to a more sound and soothing night of rest. Try and get out for a walk or run in the late afternoon or evening to get your body ready to sleep.
Keep sleep regular. Aim to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day, even at the weekend if you can. This helps to regulate your body clock and programs your body to sleep better.
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