Sleep is vital for our well-being and survival. Many times people feel they cannot get enough of it due to the busy lives they lead. Make getting quality and quantity sleep a priority to ensure that you are well-rested and energized for another day. Sleeping is a process and it should take between 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. If you fall asleep faster than that, it may be you are sleep-deprived. However, how can you tell that you are getting enough sleep? Below are some signs you are getting enough sleep as an adult even when you think you are not.
You wake up without an alarm
If you have everything you need in your room to sleep well. A good bed, sleep outfitters mattress, comfy beddings, right temperatures, and others. But still wake up in disarray to the alarm sound. You are probably not getting enough sleep. However, if you wake up before the alarm and you do not have to hit the snooze button over and over again. Chances are you are getting enough sleep. Waking up naturally shows that your body is at par with your circadian rhythm which is the sleep-wake cycle. Waking up well-rested with no help of an alarm, is a different feeling and a positive sign that you had enough sleep the previous night.
You do not crave junk food
Did you know that sleep is linked to your diet? Although hormones regulate hunger and cravings, still sleep controls your diet. According to research, they found that when you are tired, you are likely to crave sugar and carbohydrates to pick yourself up. While if you sleep poorly, you end up feeling hungry. For this reason, you will not crave these empty calories when you get enough sleep. Such as, starches, sweets, and French fries that are comfort carbohydrates.
You don’t need a caffeine boost
How often do you need a cup of coffee or energy drink to take you through the day? If a caffeine boost is a must once you wake up, and multiple of them to get through the day. You are not getting enough sleep at night. On the other hand, if you do not crave a caffeine boost in the morning, or reach for a cup of coffee in the afternoon. This is a good sign that you are getting adequate sleep.
You are in a good mood
For most people, sufficient sleep helps with anxiety and stress and having a good mood. However, when you wake up and you want no one talking to you before you have your coffee, you must be sleep-deprived and having a bad mood. This is because sleep deprivation and getting enough sleep both impact your mood. Therefore, if you feel more positive, more motivated, less anxious, less stressed, and fewer chances of extreme reactions as you face unpleasant events. This can be attributed to you getting enough sleep.
You are maintaining your weight
If you are getting good sleep, you may notice that you maintain your weight. Even when your diet is not as perfect and you have been skipping the gym from time to time. According to research on sleep, the less sleep you get, the more weight you gain over time as you keep on getting sleep deprived. Thus, it is vital that you get adequate sleep, to ensure that your hormones function properly. The insulin production will be normal, you will have feelings of fullness and your appetite will not be all over the place.
Your skin is glowing
Lack of sleep and stress are linked together. Stress and acne too. For this reason, there is a relationship between acne and lack of sleep. When you lose hours of sleep, you add stress to your body, as a result, there is an increase in glucocorticoid production that causes outbreaks. Therefore, ensure that you get enough sleep if you want clear and glowing skin. Women who get enough sleep do not have blemishes and dark circles. Thus, if your skin is glowing, it may be your skincare routine but it may also be a sign you are getting enough sleep.
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