I can still vividly remember the first couple of months after my son was born, when the level of pure exhaustion astounded me. I knew I would be tired, but I didn’t quite understand exactly how tired—to the point of feeling nauseated, cranky, and overwhelmed. It seemed like I could never catch up on sleep, and anytime I did snag a few consecutive hours, I consequently felt like a brand-new person. Sleep had become a valuable asset, one I used to take for granted, and I finally understood how lack of sleep could be so incredibly detrimental to one’s health and well-being. A good night’s sleep gives your brain a much-needed rest, builds memory association and learning skills, fights infection, and repairs your muscles. Without solid sleep, you’ll not only feel sleepy and less alert, but you’ll also be more prone to eating unhealthy foods and struggling with fatigue.
Outside of sleep hygiene issues like sleep apnea, most people simply need to just go to bed earlier to make sure they’re hitting the recommended number of hours per night. For adults, that’s between eight and ten hours, but the exact amount varies depending on your needs. If you’re constantly tired, here’s how you can start going to bed on time to actually catch those z’s.