11 Surprising Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep

There’s nothing better than the refreshed feeling you have when you wake up from a restful night of sleep. But did you know that sleep can do much more than just alleviate fatigue? It’s true! Getting a sufficient amount of sleep can:

1. Improve your cardiovascular (heart) health
2. Regulate your blood sugar  
3. Reduce cravings
4. Help you maintain a healthy weight
5. Support muscle growth
6. Strengthen your immune system
7. Reduce your risk of injury
8. Increase your attention span and productivity
9. Make it easier for you to learn and remember information
10. Reduce stress
11. Improve your mood

How Much Sleep Should You Be Getting?

Considering all the benefits that a good night’s sleep can offer, it’s important that we get the correct amount of shut-eye. But how much sleep is enough? Experts generally recommend that we sleep between seven and nine hours each night. (Notably, statistics published by the Sleep Foundation indicate that more than one-third of teens and young adults sleep less than seven hours a night, on average.)

Try auditing evening routines and create habits that create a smooth transition into a restful night's sleep.