We all know how awful it feels to toss and turn all night. But poor sleep isn't just an annoyance that leaves us groggy the next day. Over time, chronic lack of sleep takes a real toll on both physical and mental health.
Poor sleep quality can look different for different people. Most experts say that healthy sleep means not only total hours slept, but also how restful and restorative that sleep actually is. Some signs you may be suffering from poor sleep quality include:
Poor sleep hygiene is one of the biggest culprits. This includes irregular sleep schedules, excessive screen time before bed, uncomfortable sleep environments, and consumption of stimulants too close to bedtime. Underlying health issues can also interfere with sleep quality, like:
The experts at Balance Clinic also note that hormone imbalances can wreak havoc on healthy circadian rhythms. For example, deficiencies in key hormones like melatonin, estrogen, testosterone, and growth hormone are all associated with disrupted and unrefreshing sleep. Their integrative treatments help patients optimize hormones for better daytime energy and more restful nights.
Poor sleep takes a major toll both mentally and physically. The lack of deep, restorative sleep can:
Plus, ongoing sleep deprivation creates a vicious cycle. The more exhausted we become, the more our sleep drive diminishes. That makes it even harder to get truly reparative rest.
So what can we do to break this cycle and improve sleep quality? See the tips below:
At the end of the day, making sleep a priority is one of the best things we can do to feel amazing and perform at our best. Pay attention to what your mind and body need for rejuvenating rest. Small daily steps to support healthy sleep will compound over time, leaving you energized and thriving.