Feeling peckish? Take a nap!

You may not think of sleep as having anything to do with weight gain, though studies show not getting enough shut-eye could have you reaching for the cookie jar. Regular lack of sleep can affect your mood, willpower, and energy, the perfect recipe for messing up your metabolism and attempts to stay healthy. When it comes to keeping fit it seems a good night’s sleep is as important as diet and exercise. Let’s take a look at how sleep plays a part in staying in shape and why a cheeky afternoon power nap could be the new broccoli.

What is metabolism?

Before getting into how sleep affects our weight, let’s get to grips with what exactly metabolism is. Metabolism refers to our body’s process of energy expenditure, or to put it more simply how quickly we burn calories. This isn’t entirely down to physical movement, body size and muscle mass can play a role in how quickly you burn off a pizza. When it comes to the burn, everyone is different. If you ever wondered how that friend can eat all the cake without storing any fat, metabolism may have something to do with it. Of course, physical activity also can make a big difference. Increasing exercise can do more than speed up and improve your metabolism, it can also reduce the many diseases that can result from weight gain and help your sleep. So how exactly does sleep affect metabolism? Good question!

How does sleep affect metabolism?

The quality and length of your sleep has a big impact on how you wake up in the morning. We all love the feeling of jumping out of bed after eight hours though regularly skimping on enough shut-eye can lower your morning mojo. Lower energy levels means you’re less likely to hit that morning work-out.

Overtime not getting enough sleep can lead to making more poor decisions for your wellbeing. From eating sugary foods, staying in bed longer and reducing physical activity. Good routines from regular movement and getting to bed and up at the same time (yes even at the weekend) every day can help optimise metabolism.

Though to avoid the grogginess and weight gain that can result from lack of sleep, it is vital to prioritise rest. If you find it hard to get enough sleep, you are not alone. The good news is there are simple hacks to give you a better kip and brighter morning, read on to find out what you can do to get the most out of bedtime.

How can you improve your sleep and stay healthy?

Good sleep doesn’t come easy to all of us, in fact, 1 in 3 adults regularly experiences sleeping problems. With life being a montage of work, screens, and responsibilities switching off can feel impossible by the time your head hits the pillow. Speaking of pillows, this is something to consider in pursuit of better sleep. Having a comfy, supportive pillow can reduce tossing and turning throughout the night. Consider a Hybrid Pillow which contours to your sleeping position, perfecting your alignment from lights out till morning.

The things you do before you go to bed can also have a big influence on the quality of your sleep. Taking a bath to unwind and avoiding screens for at least two hours before you hit the hay will ease your mind and make it far easier to drift off. Avoiding caffeine, sugar, and alcohol will also set you up for a longer, deeper rest.

Most importantly stick to a routine! Improving your sleep might not happen overnight though the more committed you are to adopting healthy bedtime habits, the sooner you will be waking up a happier, healthier you.

The last-bite

Lack of sleep can be incredibly frustrating, though being aware of its effects on weight gain and metabolism can help you make better decisions and take action to prioritise rest. It’s all about balance and with a little patience and effort you will be getting the sleep you need to stay fit, healthy and ready for those morning work-outs!