Getting a decent night’s rest is incredibly important for your health. Actually, it is just as important as eating a balanced, nutritious diet and exercising. Even though sleep tends to vary from person to person, most adults require between 7 and 8 hours of sleep per night. If you find yourself feeling tired all the time, then there’s a good chance you might not be getting enough sleep.

Sleep deprivation can put your health and safety at risk, which is why it’s essential that your prioritize and protect your sleep on a daily basis. Below are three reasons you need to get more sleep every day.

Numerous studies associate short sleep with a greater risk of weight gain and a higher body mass index (BMI). The effect of sleep on weight gain is believed to be affected by numerous factors, including hormones and motivation to exercise. What’s more to compensate for lack of energy, sleep deprivation may make you crave foods that are higher in sugar and fat, due to their higher calorie content. To cut a long story short, prioritizing sleep may support healthy body weight.

You might not know this, but sleep has the potential to help enhance athletic performance. Adequate sleep can enhance the motor skills, reaction time, muscular power, muscular endurance, and problem-solving skills. What’s even better, lack of sleep may increase your risk of injury and lower your motivation to exercise. So, getting enough sleep may be just the thing you need to take your performance to the next level.

Mental health complications such as depression, are strongly linked to poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders. If at all you have trouble with sleep and notice your mental health had deteriorated, it is important to speak with your healthcare professional before things get out of hand.

There is more to getting enough sleep than merely what is included in this simple guide. If you are currently feeling tired all the time, then it would be better to check if it traces back to your lack of sleep issue. Thing are no different when battling numerous health complications such as depression. The good news is you can never run out of options when looking for the perfect way to improve your sleeping habit.