Sleep impacts an individual’s health and overall performance

Monika Sharma

Sleep is the elixir of life. It plays a silent but an integral role in the overall health of a person, both physical and mental. In India, problems related to sleep deprivation are given the least priority but in reality, sleep is the fulcrum that impacts an individual’s health and overall performance.

It is during sleeping hours that the actual mental and physical repair takes place. It is that restful sleep period when the learning and cognitive skills like decision making, accuracy, etc are sharpened. You need to have a proper sleep of seven to nine hours to be in your best form. However, unfortunately most people are sleep-deprived and this hampers their mental well-being.

Here, we will talk about the correlation between sleep and mental health.

Of mental disorders

Sleep and mental disorders have a bi-directional relationship, in which sleep disorders could be both a cause and consequence of mental health problems.

Lack of sleep can lead to some serious mental conditions, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. This can affect one’s physical health over a period of time. Remember, with an ongoing mental health issue, lack of repair and recovery from sleepless nights can further deteriorate the performance.

Sleep and recovery

During these unprecedented times, it is especially important for you to have proper sleep as this is your opportunity to boost immunity. A good night’s sleep will also ensure that the enhanced cognitive functions like decision making and judgement, which are critical for any professional to give his best.

Retaining memories

Sleep helps to retain and consolidate memories. When you learn a new technique or acquire a new skill, sleep helps to retain them through memories, which improves performance and productivity. Without effective sleep, the pathways in the brain that allow you to learn and make memories cannot be formed or maintained.

Mood lifter

Just like exercise is needed to maintain physical fitness, sleep is essential to maintain mental health. Insomnia or disturbed sleep can cause irritation, emotional outbursts and in severe cases can induce bipolar disorder and mania. Thus, quality sleep is the underlying force that can push a professional to attain any heights.

(Sharma is a wellness expert)