Archives for December 2017

Most people deal with adrenal fatigue at one point in their lives.

Prolonged periods of high stress put a lot of strain on our adrenal glands, and after a period of time, they may get worn out and they won’t perform as well as they should.

Adrenal fatigue is, in fact, the body’s inability to recuperate from mental, physical, or emotional stress.

The adrenals have a vast influence on our bodies, so adrenal fatigue can mimic a lot of separate disorders, which makes it very difficult to recognize.

Some of the most common symptoms of adrenal fatigue include brain fog, weight gain, increased blood pressure and heart rate, reduced immune function, and extreme fatigue.

Because these symptoms are common to many different disorders, they are often overlooked even by experienced doctors.

However, a combination of these symptoms can indicate the onset of adrenal fatigue.

The following 11 signs can indicate you’re experiencing adrenal fatigue, but luckily, there are 3 steps to overcome it naturally.

1. Insomnia

Experts agree we should sleep at least 6 hours every night to allow our body to rest and recover.

But instead of catching up on our sleep, we prefer to work more or to spend time watching videos online.

However, when losing sleep becomes a habit, it turns into insomnia, and suddenly we can’t even fall asleep, even if we want to.

We experience constant fatigue, we have dark circles under our eyes, and we increase our caffeine intake just because it helps us stay awake.

Our adrenal system is coordinated by our sleep patterns.

The human body has a natural circadian rhythm that controls the release of certain hormones.

These hormones coordinate most of our body functions, so it’s very important to have a constant circadian rhythm we respect. (1)

2. Anxiety or Depression

We don’t get stressed for no reason.

Sometimes we have a tight deadline, other times we have a hard time organizing an event that means a lot to us.

But we eventually get lost in our busy schedules and forget to take a moment to unwind.

Experiencing high levels of stress over a long period of time can lead to various complications, both for our physical and for our mental health.

When we’re stressed out, we might have mood swings, and we might experience a poor cognitive function.

But the worst part is, these symptoms can aggravate over time, and they can lead to anxiety and depression.

Anxiety and depression are determined by high cortisol levels, and these high levels can either be determined directly by the adrenal fatigue or they can be increased by it. (2)

3. Chronic Fatigue

Adrenal fatigue is often associated with chronic fatigue disease because they have similar symptoms.

Sometimes these conditions go hand in hand, and it’s very difficult to differentiate them.

People who suffer from chronic and adrenal fatigue may feel exhausted even after they get a good night’s sleep.

Sometimes, they experience headaches, muscle and joint pain, and they get sick more often.

It’s not uncommon for people suffering from these conditions to experience digestive symptoms like cramps or constipation. (3)

4. Feeling Overwhelmed

Sometimes we get so caught up in our busy schedules we don’t have a realistic view of what’s really happening in our lives.

We set unrealistic goals for ourselves both in our professional and our personal lives, and we often find ourselves feeling overwhelmed because we can’t achieve those goals no matter how hard we try.

High levels of physical and emotional stress can lead to an unrelenting feeling of being overwhelmed.

Our bodies rely on our adrenal response to deal with stress.

In a stressful situation, our adrenals release adrenaline, norepinephrine, and cortisol to deal with it.

When the adrenals are fatigued, they have a hard time releasing exactly the amount of hormones you need.

5. Craving For Sugar And Salt

The adrenal glands are responsible for the regulation of our fluid and mineral excretion.

When our adrenals are fatigued, our bodies eliminate more minerals in our urine, and we might even urinate more frequently.

Since our bodies excrete more minerals, the balance of magnesium, sodium, and potassium in our bloodstream is affected.

This makes us crave for foods that will replenish the sodium we lost.

The brain is the largest glucose consumer in our body.

If you’re feeling tired, the brain will look for a quick way to find fuel, so you might crave for sweets or sugary drinks.

However, we can consume an adequate amount of sugar without eating foods that contain added sugar. (5)

6. Knee or Back Pain

Muscle weakness can be another sign of adrenal fatigue.

When we’re experiencing muscle weakness, we might feel unexplained pains in our back and knees.

If this pain is not associated with any structural defect, it might indicate adrenal fatigue.

Lower back pain can be determined by chronic stress.

The muscles supporting the pelvis can be weakened by chronic adrenal stress, which can make them more unstable.

7. Poor Digestion

Stress can profoundly affect our digestive systems.

Stress can decrease the nutrient intake in our gut, can cause microbial disruptions, and it can lead to a poor digestion.

Not to mention the fact that we’re more likely to give up any diet when we’re stressed out.

When we’re stressed and our adrenals are not working as they should, the food we eat might need more time to transit our digestive tract.

This can be problematic because when food stagnates somewhere in our gut, it can ferment and it can eventually putrefy.

If the food stagnates, it’s invaded by more bacteria and yeast than usual, which will determine our immune system to attack it.

The result is an inflammation of the lining of our gut wall, which can eventually spread to other areas as well.

Carb heavy foods and those that contain gluten can make the inflammation worse.

Furthermore, this inflammation can lead to discomfort, cramps, constipation or diarrhea. (7)

8. Getting Sick Often

People suffering from adrenal fatigue get sick more often than others.

Our adrenals coordinate our immune system, so when they’re not working as it should, our immune system is less successful in stopping the bacteria and viruses that are constantly assaulting our bodies.

Cortisol plays an important role in mediating our immune responses.

When an inflammation occurs, our body is really fighting an infection.

Cortisol is the hormone that stops the inflammation from getting out of hand.

However, our cortisol levels are very important for our immune system.

When we’re stressed, our cortisol levels are elevated, so instead of stopping the inflammatory response from getting out of control, the cortisol will actually stop it from working as it should.

This weakens our bodies’ response to the stressful agents and lowers our immunity.

That’s why people who are stressed are more vulnerable to different diseases.

They tend to get the common cold more often than others, but they might even contact the flu more often. (8)

9. Exhaustion After Exercise

Moderate exercises should stimulate our bodies, but when we suffer from adrenal fatigue, the physical stress might seem too overwhelming for our bodies to deal with.

Instead of feeling energized after exercising, we feel exhausted.

That’s why some people give up exercising in periods of high stress.

Their bodies give them messages of how tired they feel, and they give up without even wondering why. (9)

10. Major Hormonal Imbalances

Sometimes, when we’re suffering from adrenal fatigue we might experience major hormonal imbalances.

One of these imbalances affects a lot of people worldwide, and it’s called hypothyroidism.

People who have signs of hypothyroidism often have a poor circulation, they gain in weight, and they have dry skin and dry hair. (10)

11. Brain Fog Or Memory Problems

Some people really believe that they work better when they’re stressed out, but science contradicts them.

When we’re stressed for a long period of time, we can experience memory problems or brain fog.

Sometimes we can’t even remember small things like where we put our car keys, or we end up forgetting to take an umbrella with us on a rainy day. (11)

How To Overcome Adrenal Fatigue Naturally

Adrenal fatigue has a lot of symptoms, but thankfully, it has a lot of natural remedies as well. I compiled the best ways to naturally overcome adrenal fatigue in the following 3 steps.

1. Try The Adrenal Fatigue Diet

Since the things we eat deeply affect our bodies, we should pay more attention to them.

The adrenal fatigue diet is designed to allow your adrenals to regenerate and produce hormones as they should.

One of the first things you should do to help your adrenals regenerate is to avoid eating foods with an inflammatory potential.

Gluten – Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale.

Even if avoiding gluten is trendy nowadays, you should avoid eating it for serious reasons.

Eating gluten can lead to a gut inflammation even if you’re not allergic to it.

Chronic gut inflammation can lead to a leaky gut syndrome, a condition you should really avoid (12)

Dairy – Dairy contains lactose, a sugar that can cause an intolerance.

However, you should avoid eating dairy products even if you’re not lactose intolerant.

Lactose is harder to digest, and it accumulates in our small intestine where it attracts water and electrolytes.

This can lead bloating and diarrhea.

Carbohydrates – Carbohydrates are not necessarily bad for you, but they can cause a gut inflammation that can be problematic when you’re suffering from adrenal fatigue.

Even though eating carbs can increase your mood for a short while when you’re stressed out, it will strain your adrenals even more.

You should avoid all starchy carbs when you’re trying the adrenal fatigue diet. (13)

Sugar And Sweeteners – Sugar can nowadays be found in most types of products.

Most manufacturers add sugar to their products because it’s a very good preservative, so you shouldn’t be surprised if you find it in certain types of bread, dressings, or even condiments.

Instead of using sugar, you can replace it with raw honey or even stevia.

Limit Caffeine Intake – Caffeine is a powerful stimulant, and it can interfere with your circadian rhythm.

Caffeine can actually be good for you if you don’t consume too much of it daily.

You should avoid drinking caffeinated beverages after noon to make sure you’ll get a good night’s sleep. (14)

Processed Foods – Processed foods contain a lot of preservatives and fillers that can be very difficult to digest.

If you want to try the adrenal fatigue diet, you should sugary and processed foods, and you should try to prepare your own food using fresh natural ingredients whenever possible.

Hydrogenated Oils – Hydrogenated oils like corn oil, soybean, and canola can produce a powerful inflammation in your gut, and they can determine an adrenal inflammation.

You should use good fats such as coconut oil, organic butter, or olive oil instead.

Since the adrenal fatigue diet limits our access to certain types of foods, let’s see what we should actually eat

Cruciferous Veggies – Vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower are very good for us.

Eating cruciferous veggies can reduce inflammatory processes, and it can even have an antidepressant effect. (15)

Avocados – Avocados are a very important source of monounsaturated fat.

When we eat avocados, we consume the type of fat that reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Avocados are also nutrient-rich, and they represent a good source of vitamin C, B vitamins, copper, and potassium. (16)

High-Quality Fish & Chicken – Fish is one of the healthiest foods out there.

High-quality fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and it also represents an important protein and vitamin D source.

High-quality chicken meat is a great source of low-fat protein, and it can be very useful when you plan to eat a clean diet.

Chicken meat is very versatile, and you can use it to prepare a large variety of tasty dishes. (17)

2. Herbs And Supplements You Should Try For Adrenal Fatigue

There are a lot of herbs and supplements that can naturally minimize stress and increase the rate of our adrenals’ regeneration.

Rhodiola Rosea, Ashwagandha, Holy Basil, Schisandra – Adaptogenic herbs can lower our cortisol levels and improve the way our bodies react to stress.

Using these herbs can lower the strain on our adrenals.

Vitamin C – Vitamin C can minimize the effects stress has on our bodies, and it can also boost our immune system.

Taking vitamin C supplements can reduce the time our adrenals need to recover after a stressful period. (18)

Aromatherapy – Lavender oil can be used alone or alongside rosemary oil to reduce stress and decrease our cortisol concentrations.

When inhaled, these essential oils can also reduce the oxidative stress our cells are exposed to. (19)

Selenium – Taking selenium supplements can be very beneficial for everyone who suffers from adrenal fatigue.

Selenium deficiency has a negative impact on our adrenal function.

B Vitamins – We can usually take all the B vitamins we need from our food.

However, taking B vitamins is recommended for people who limit or eliminate meat from their diets.

Vitamin B5 deficiency is usually encountered in people who suffer from adrenal stress, so supplementing it can be beneficial.

3. Reduce Your Adrenal Fatigue Stress

 Eating right and taking the necessary supplements and herbs will help us, but unfortunately, they won’t repair our adrenals on their own.

We should also follow the next steps to ensure your adrenals will regenerate faster.

Get Plenty Of Sleep – We should sleep 8 – 10 hours a night.

Even if this looks like a waste of time, we’ll actually increase our productivity, focus, motivation, and energy levels.

Have A Constant Circadian Rhythm – Getting a lot of sleep is not helpful if we don’t respect our bodies’ natural rhythm.

We should make sure we don’t stay up late and that we wake early. (20)

Laugh – Laughing is a great way to lower our stress levels, and it’s also one of the most pleasurable ways to do it. (21)

Exercise – Moderate exercise can be very beneficial for our stress levels, and it can improve the quality of our lives.

Yoga exercises can reduce stress responses, and they can improve many aspects of our lives.

Listen To Music – Listening to music can be very relaxing, and it can lower our stress levels.

And the best thing is, we don’t even have to listen to a certain type of music to achieve the same results.

Some people might find 80s dance music relaxing, while others might find it relaxing to listen to heavy metal.

It doesn’t really matter, the results will be the same. (22)

Most people often misunderstand creativity.

Sure, most of us believe creativity is helpful, but we don’t consider ourselves as “creative types”.

Instead, we believe creativity is helpful for people who work in graphic design, musicians, painters, or sculptors.

But this is a wrong way to think about creativity.

Creativity helps us in our day-to-day lives more than you’d think.

Chances are, most of the times we make a surprising decision, that decision is highly influenced by our creativity.

Simply put, creativity is the cognitive process that lets us know that jumping over a fence is a solution when we discover that the gate is closed, and the one that lets us improvise when we’re short of certain supplies or tools.

And creative thinking is highly sought after these days, no matter in which field you activate.

Creative people can provide a different perspective on a known problem, and they can come up with new solutions when old approaches are not effective any longer.

Even though most of us don’t consider ourselves creative, there’s no denying that creativity can be very useful.

Luckily, there are 9 scientifically-based ways to boost your creativity.

1. Let Go Of Perfection

The first we should understand when we seek to come up with a creative solution for a problem is that we shouldn’t strive for perfection.

Seeking perfection is actually stressful, and stress is known as a creativity killer.

When we’re searching for a creative solution, we should be aware that the solution we come up with won’t fit the template we’re used to.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good solution, it only means it’s new and innovative.

You cannot expect something to be innovative but match your predefined expectations at the same time, that’s nonsense.

If the creative solution you came up with gets the job done, it should be good enough for you.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should come up with a sloppy solution that will only solve half of the problem.

That won’t do.

Sure, you might come with a better solution in time, or maybe you will upgrade the one you already used, but that doesn’t mean they will be perfect, nor does it mean they won’t be good.

If we stop comparing our work with some old templates, we might discover that we can come up with creative solutions for most of the things we do every day.

2. Read A Lot

Reading is one of the most important things you can do to boost your creativity.

When we read, our mind is actually exercising.

Yes, that really sounds like a cliche, but that doesn’t make it less true.

Just like our bodies, our minds also need exercise to perform at their best.

And reading seems to be a great exercise because it allows the mind to fantasize and to think creatively.

We don’t have to read fiction or fantasy to work our “creativity muscles”.

Everything we read will increase our concentration and stimulate our creativity.

Unlike watching TV or Youtube videos, reading is an active process that requires our active engagement and concentration.

You might have noticed that if you’re not paying attention when you read something, your eyes will keep wandering across the page, but your mind won’t process any information.

Instead, when we’re concentrating on the book itself, our minds create opinions, images, and thoughts the whole time.

Reading will exercise your mind, so the more you read, the more creative your mind will become. (2)

3. Trying New Things

One of the most common mistakes people make during their lifetimes is being satisfied with what they’ve already experienced and what they already know.

Not only does this limit our ability to think outside the box, but it will also limit our creativity.

If we never try new things, how can we think about something innovative?

Humans are creatures of habits.

All of us like doing things in particular ways.

We like our morning coffee just so, and we like to take the same route on our daily commutes.

All of us have different habits, and the reason behind them is the fact that habits allow our brains to turn their autopilot functions.

Just think about it, when was the last time you tried preparing your morning coffee differently?

Chances are, not in a very long time.

Most of us don’t even change the type of coffee we drink for years on end.

And that’s because we prefer to let the autopilot take the wheel while our brains take a nap in the backseat.

While habits might be useful to save time, they can be very harmful to our creative minds.

Not trying new things limits our brains to a small sum of experiences, so it makes it harder for the brain to think about something new.

Every time we try new things, we step outside our comfort zone.

We might even feel a little bit uncomfortable doing so, but that’s just our brain trying to protect us.

But when we step outside our comfort zone, the brain really becomes active.

Rather than letting the autopilot take the wheel, the conscious mind takes over and tries to make as many connections as it can.

So we’ll smell new things, our eyes will wander and explore different patterns and colors, and different hormones will be released into our bodies, making us a little anxious and perhaps ever fearful.

But that’s just the mind taking in all the new information we’re experiencing.

If we really want to boost our creativity, we should make a habit out of trying new things.

We should connect with other cultures, whether by reading about their ways and customs or by trying their food.

We should avoid drinking and eating our favorite foods every weekend and try something new instead.

We can even work in a new environment once in a while.

You never know where the inspiration will come from.

Consuming content that’s outside our comfort zone is surely a good thing to try.

Sure, you might be more interested in reading work-related stuff, but reading something way outside your industry might provide the necessary spark to get your creativity going.

This will stimulate our minds into making new memories and connections, and it will boost our creativity in the long run. (3)

4. Play

One of the problems modern society has nowadays is that people take themselves too seriously.

No matter if they’re at work or at home, people rarely do something to have fun any longer, and if they do, it’s most likely a passive cognitive process, such as watching a television series or a movie.

And the worst thing is, we force our children to be serious from a very fragile age as well.

But that seems to be a terrible idea if we want to stimulate our creativity.

Even though it might seem unproductive, play time is one of the of the most effective ways to stimulate creative thinking.

When we play, our brain pursues different things it’s interested in, and it makes things up to create a story of sorts.

This cognitive process is very important, even though most of the times it fails to accomplish anything specific.

When our brains create different scenarios and make things up on the go for us to have fun, they’re actually accessing the cognitive parts of our minds.

Just like reading, playing can be considered an exercise for our brains, and it can stimulate our creativity.

Moreover, playing can allow our minds to make connections they wouldn’t normally make when we pursue a certain goal.

Even though playing might be considered infantile and unproductive, some of the world’s biggest companies, including Google, encourage their employees to spend time playing while they’re at work.

The results – well, let’s call them surprisingly efficient.

Both Google Earth and Gmail were created when employees were enjoying their free time. (4)

5. Exercise

When people think about different ways to stimulate their creative minds, they tend to ignore that the body works as a whole, not as a set of different components crammed in a shell.

Exercising regularly is very good for our brain.

Exercising stimulates our blood flow, so our hearts will push more blood every minute.

This increased blood flow doesn’t only reach your muscles, it also reaches your brain.

And thanks to the increased volume of blood it receives, your brain will also receive more nutrients and more oxygen in the process.

Fortunately, our brains are complex organs, so they don’t have to focus only on thing at once.

When we’re exercising, part of our brain is actively controlling our movement, and part of it wanders.

This allows our minds to think of different things and sometimes come up with surprising solutions.

However, our minds will wander while we’re exercising only if the body is used to exercise.

If it’s not, most of our cognitive processes will track our movements, so our creative juices might not start flowing as expected.

That’s why it’s very important to exercise regularly.

If you’re not used to regular exercise, you can simply take long walks to get your creative juices flowing.

When we walk, our brain is stimulated to make new neural connections, allowing our neurons to communicate better with one another.

Scientists now believe that regular exercise acts as a cognitive enhancer, and the best thing is, it’s also inexpensive and beneficial for our bodies.

And recent studies show that you can even boost your creativity just by exercising your eyes.

Most of us might not have heard of eye exercises before, but rest assured, they are real and they’re backed by science.

A simple eye exercise we can practice is moving our eyes left to right and repeating the process.

Apparently, this movement increases the amount of information our brain hemispheres exchange, which helps them collaborate better.

Exercising our eyes will also boost our creativity. (5)

6. Relax and Stay Positive

One of the most frequent problems people face when they try to do something creative is staying positive.

Creative processes are often very demanding, and so people often experience creative blocks.

The problem is that once we hit a creative block, we get frustrated and we find it hard to overcome them.

Even though most of us try to force our way around a creative block, that seems to be a bad approach.

The best thing we could do is to relax.

Sure, this might seem easier said than done at first, but we can get there with exercise.

It’s true that after we reach a creative block we feel anything but relaxed, but thankfully, there are scientifically-proven ways that can take the edge off.

• Hot Showers – taking a hot shower can be a very relaxing process. All of us tend to relax when we feel warm, and hot showers are the perfect way to be surrounded by warmth. As a plus, hot showers also relax our muscles, making us feel more at ease.
• Daydreaming – One of the most efficient ways to relax our minds is to let them wander. Daydreaming allows our conscious minds to think about something else, and most often then not, the solution for the problem at hand will show itself right when we’re not focusing on it.
• Laying Down – Most people feel more comfortable when they’re laying down than when they’re standing, so this is an effective way to relax.
• Power Naps – Since we’re supposed to be more comfortable while laying down, we might as well take a short nap. Keep in mind that the nap should be short. Power naps shouldn’t last more than half an hour, or you might wake up groggy instead of refreshed.
• Have A Laugh – Laughing is a great way to relax our minds. We can do anything that makes us laugh, as long as we do. Whether we play or we watch a comedy sketch, laughing engages our brains and makes us feel more relaxed in the process.

Relaxing will help our minds to overcome any creative blocks we might encounter, and that will keep us positive.

Our brains are much more efficient when we’re positive, so we’re more likely to complete any process we’re involved in if we have a positive mindset. (6)

7. Solitude

Humans are social creatures, so we need to interact with other people if we want to lead a normal life.

However, most of us don’t need to interact with someone all day long to feel like we belong.

Our creative minds have a difficult time expressing themselves when we’re overwhelmed with information.

So every time we take a break to interact with someone over social media platforms, we’re actually stopping our creative thoughts.

Spending some time in solitude, away from the world, can boost your creativity.

Try to disconnect from your social media accounts when you’re involved in a creative process.

You can even try to shut out all the noise that might distract you from your work.

The world will still be there once you’ve finished your project.

8. Get Someone Else’s Opinion

All of us have different ideas and beliefs.

Even though you might think you’re the best person to handle a project, that doesn’t mean that nobody around you can do anything to help.

You can always get someone else’s opinion on your work, and see how it goes.

Even if that person is not involved in the same work field as you, you might still receive valuable ideas from them.

Getting a different perspective on a project can broaden the way you look at things, and it can stimulate your creativity.

You might even change the way to approach the problem altogether.

9. Listen To Music

Listening to happy music can boost your creativity.

And the best type of happy music you can listen to when you’re involved in a creative process is classical music, according to science.

People who listened to Mozart or Vivaldi experienced an increase in their creativity.

They came up with solutions that didn’t occur to them while they were trying to perform the task in complete silence.

Scientists believe that listening to happy music might enhance the brain’s flexibility in thinking, allowing us to come up with more creative solutions. (9)

“Sleep is the cousin of death.”

“There is no rest for the weary.”

Our workforce and culture today communicate with language like this glorifying sleep deprivation and characterizing it as a symbol of honor.

Many folks think if you aren’t working around the clock, you’re considered a slacker.

I used to work nonstop for years.

I would get 5-6 hours of sleep a night thinking that was normal.

I would pull all-nighters on a regular basis, assuring myself I’ll sleep when I’m dead.

What I didn’t realize was, by not sleeping, I was gradually killing myself.

I would eat healthy, exercise, and do almost everything else right in a continual quest for a better me, but I would sacrifice my sleep to “get more work done.”

But there finally came a point, when I was completely burnt out physically and mentally and I needed to make a change.

I had trouble focusing.

I got sick a lot.

I couldn’t remember even the simplest of things.

I wasn’t entirely sure if lack of sleep was what wore me down but fortunately, in a time of desperation, I stumbled across a few articles on the importance of sleep that swayed me to transform my sleep habits.

One element that caught my eye was a study done at the University of Texas Southwestern medical school.

The research showed that losing the equivalent of one night’s sleep is identical to having a blood alcohol concentration of about 0.1 – placing you in a “too drunk to lawfully drive a vehicle” status.

I’ve always suspected sleep to be a passive process of helping us recuperate our minds and bodies.

But there’s been a flow of research revealing otherwise.

Sleep is indeed an active function, rather than just a resting period.

So if you’re heading to bed to “unwind” from work, you aren’t truly unwinding.

Sleep is itself work.

So if you’re attempting to solve a complex problem, and you decide to set it aside overnight and return to it the following day, that’s not not working on the problem, that is working on the problem.

So the idiom “sleep on it” is truly scientifically-backed advice.

After that realization, I started changing my sleep habits to accomplish more out of my days.

No more sacrificing sleep just to stay up and watch another episode of House of Cards, to accomplish another task on my to-do list, or to hang out with my friends.

There’s plenty of other reasons why we should take sleep seriously.

Let’s take a look.

1. Sleep Helps Your Memory

One of the functions of sleep is helping you consolidate long-term memories.

When you sleep, your brain not only strengthens neural connections that form your useful long-term memories, but it also prunes out the ones it doesn’t consider useful.

Your brain makes new connections at every moment you spend awake, but not all of them prove to be useful.

So when you go to sleep, your brain starts to strengthen the connections it finds useful, and it discards the connections it considers unhelpful.

You might have noticed this effect since you were in school.

You would spend some time studying during the day, but you couldn’t remember all of the things you’ve learned.

But once you’ve slept, you could remember more of what you learned the previous day.

In fact, the sleep’s function in allowing your brain to make new connections was demonstrated through a simple, yet very ingenious experiment.

In the experiment, two groups of people were asked to learn a routine of tapping buttons in a certain order.

One group of people was asked to repeat the task after being awake for 12 hours, while the second group was asked to repeat it after sleeping for 12 hours.

The people in the second group performed much better.

So getting plenty of sleep will allow your brain to strengthen the connections it makes during the day, and it will also allow it to discard the connections it deems unnecessary. (1)

2. Sleep Helps Your Brain Get Rid Of Toxins

Just like every other organ in your body, your brain has to eat.

And when your brain eats, it produces some by-products.

Other by-products are produced from the brain’s activity, and they accumulate in the brain during the day.

But one of the most important discoveries in recent years shows that the brain increases its ability to clean itself when you’re sleeping.

Your brain has its own lymphatic system which removes toxins and makes sure nothing foreign comes in contact with your brain.

When we sleep, the space between our brain cells expands.

This allows our lymphatic system to clean up all the debris through the cerebral fluid.

Perhaps the most important thing about this cleaning process is that it can remove the beta-amyloid proteins that act as a precursor to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Getting enough sleep will help your brain clean itself, lowering the chances of developing Alzheimer’s. (2)

3. Sleep Influences Your Creativity

Our creativity is greatly influenced by sleep.

No, this won’t only affect sculptors and painters.

We use creativity every day.

In fact, most of the times we come up with an ingenious solution to a problem, whether it’s a mathematical one or a physical one, we use the creative parts of our brains.

Divergent thinking is our ability to think outside the box.

When people have to pass a fence, they will look for a gate.

Well, the creative way to solve this problem would be to jump over the fence or cut a hole into it.

Of course, this is an oversimplification of creative thought, but it’s a good visual example.

When we are sleep-deprived, our brain loses the ability to think creatively.

A study showed that people who were awake for 32 hours performed much worse at divergent thinking tests.

Their thoughts lost their flexibility and fluency, and some even lost their originality.

Instead of thinking about a new solution for every problem, they tried using the same solution for all of them.

On the other hand, people who got a good nights’ sleep were more successful at figuring out a hidden pattern than those who were sleep deprived.

So if you want to be creative and come up with innovative solutions more often, make sure you get enough sleep. (3)

4. Sleep Is Important For Cognition

Most of us don’t need flashy scientific studies to learn that the lack of sleep can incapacitate our cognitive abilities and productivity.

We experienced it ourselves.

Sleep deprivation affects all aspects of our cognition, from decision-making to attention.

This is why being sleep-deprived when you’re driving is very dangerous.

Even though for many of us driving is almost a second nature, and we do it with some kind of automatism, it’s still a very complex process.

When we’re driving, our brain has to focus on multiple things at once.

It has to coordinate our hand and feet movements, it has to be aware of everything we see, and it has to be receptive to everything that goes on around us.

This is why people who are sleep-deprived are more likely to be involved in an accident.

Sleep deprivation affects your cognitive function, and your brains aren’t able to register everything that’s going on, or is slow to do so.

Sleep deprivation also has a negative impact on your working memory and attention.

Scientists recommend you sleep at least 7-9 hours a night for optimal recovery.

People who voluntarily slept 2 hours less than their usual schedule performed worse in certain tasks that involved short-term memory and attention than they did when they followed their normal circadian rhythm. (4)

5. Sleep Loss Is Interconnected To Depression

Depression is connected to sleep problems.

People who suffer from depression can either have a hard time sleeping or they might sleep a lot.

But the reverse is also true.

People who are sleep-deprived have a higher chance of developing depression, or they can experience an aggravation of their symptoms if they’re already depressed.

Several studies showed that people who sleep more than 8 hours per night and those who sleep less than 6 hours per night are more likely to be depressed than those who sleep between 6 – 8 hours.

People who suffer from chronic sleep deprivation and insomnia are way more likely to develop mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

Part of the reason this happens is that our brains have a circadian rhythm.

The circadian rhythm is our daily sleep-wake cycle.

Most of our body functions depend on the circadian rhythm, so it’s very important to maintain it.

When people are sleep deprived their circadian rhythms are disrupted, and their brain has a hard time coordinating all the body’s function to the new rhythm.

That’s why you might sometimes need a full week to recover after losing a whole night of sleep.

Your brain is trying to coordinate all your body functions to your new schedule, while you’re trying to get back to your old one. (5)

6. Sleep Is Necessary For The Brain’s Development

Having small children can be difficult, but having tired small children can be a daunting challenge.

Sleep deprivation has a lot of short-term effects in children, and it can make them somewhat difficult to handle, but it can actually affect their brain development in the long run.

Getting enough sleep is one of the most important ingredients for the growing brain.

That’s why babies, toddlers, children, and teens sleep more than adults.

Studies have linked sleep loss with higher chances of developing ADHD symptoms in children.

Other studies have shown that for children, every extra minute of sleep counts.

Children who slept just 18 minutes more had a significant increase in their school performance.

Elementary school children who slept more performed better in English and Math tests.

Sleep deprivation can also affect children differently than it does adults.

Children who were sleep-deprived showed brain changes in the rear regions of their brains, while sleep-deprived adults showed changes in their front regions.

It’s still unclear on how these differences can influence the brain’s development, but it’s certainly not good.

Since every extra minute of sleep is important for the growing brain, some schools have changed their school day schedule to better accommodate the brain’s need for sleep. (6)

7. Sleep Is Important For Your Physical Health

Even though the rest of your body doesn’t need sleep as much as your brain does, sleep deprivation can still affect it.

Studies have linked sleep deprivation to higher blood pressures, increases of the heart rate and the heart’s contractility rate, and higher cortisol levels.

Other studies have shown that the lack of sleep can increase the risk of developing diabetes and the inflammation levels which can increase one’s risk of cancer.

Our bodies’ sleep-wake cycle is very important because it influences all our body functions.

The human body evolved to wake up during the day when it’s light outside and to sleep when it’s dark.

Melatonin, a hormone our body produces, is released when the sun goes down and it makes you feel less alert.

Our blood melatonin levels stay elevated for almost 12 hours, and they’re barely detected during the daytime.

So our bodies are designed to sleep at night. (7)

8. Sleep Influences Your Training

Sleeping properly is also one of the first things a personal trainer will recommend you.

Not only will sleeping more help your muscles recover after training, but it will also lower the chances of getting injured.

Having plenty of sleep will also increase your performance, and you will run faster, lift more weights, and exceed your physical performances.

Sports superstars like Lebron James, Roger Federer, Usain Bolt, and Venus Williams claim that they sleep more than 10 hours each day.

So how come they are successful at what they do when they’re essentially “wasting” almost half of their days sleeping?

Well, during REM sleep, your brain makes new connections and consolidate the neural pathways it considers useful.

This will help you learn new skills faster.

Whether you’re looking to improve your golf drive or your soccer crosses, getting enough sleep will be beneficial for you.

Sleeping properly will also increase your energy levels.

Rigorous training requires a lot of discipline and mental toughness, and getting a lot of sleep will improve your focus.

Motivation and willpower alone cannot lead to successful results.

You need to help your body if you want to reap the rewards of your training.

One thing that will help your body rest better is avoiding caffeine.

Caffeine is a natural stimulant, and even though you might enjoy having an energy drink or a coffee in the afternoon, you shouldn’t.

You don’t have to avoid caffeine all day long.

You can drink it before your training if you exercise in the morning.

But consuming caffeine in the evening can affect your sleep patterns, even if you have developed a mild tolerance for it.

To improve your sleep, you can take a calcium and magnesium supplement.

Both of these substances are considered natural sleep aids, and taking them at the same time can make you sleep better. (8)

9. Develop A Sleep Routine

One of the ways to make sure you get proper sleep is to develop a sleep routine.

Having a routine is very important, especially because most people believe that they can catch up on their sleep.

This is far from the truth.

In fact, the greater our sleep debt is, the less capable we are to recognize it.

Once we are sleep deprived, our brain eats itself.

This might sound like something taken out of a horror movie scenario, but unfortunately, it’s true.

When it’s facing chronic sleep deprivation, our brain gets all foggy and confused, and the cells that usually handle the waste disposal in the brain end up eating other brain cells.

This might lead to severe mental health consequences in the long run.

The best way to avoid this situation is to develop and stick to a sleeping routine.

Developing a sleep routine might be difficult at first because you will have to go to sleep and wake up at the same time of day, every day.

Maybe sometimes you won’t feel sleepy, maybe sometimes you will feel sleepy before your scheduled sleep hour.

Well, the truth is anyone who uses a sleep routine struggled a little at first, but once you’re used to it everything gets better.

A lot better.

You won’t feel the brain fogging your thoughts at lunchtime, and you won’t be drowsy in the morning.

Once you’re used to having enough sleep, your body will reward you.

Your brain will perform better, and you will find a new motivation and focus.

You will be in a better mood, and you will be able to handle multiple tasks without tiring. (9)

10. 5 Tips On Developing A Sleep Routine

• Go to bed early – The best approach is to go to bed early and wake up early as well.
• Have a bedtime routine – Creating a bedtime routine will allow your brain to register the fact that you want to sleep. The routine can be simple or complex, it doesn’t really matter as long as it works. You can try flossing and then reading one or two chapters from a book
• Avoid using gadgets – Using gadgets when you’re in bed can trick your brain into believing it’s morning. Nowadays, gadgets produce a powerful light that can deceive your brain.
• Meditate – Meditation can help you sleep better. You can either meditate before going to bed, or you can meditate in bed, prior to falling sleep.
• Wake up to something peaceful – Most people don’t use alarm clocks any longer, they use their phone’s alarm clock feature. Well, make sure the tune you’re waking up to is a peaceful one. You don’t want to wake up with a boost of cortisol because the alarm tone scares you into wakefulness.

Once you manage to sleep well for a few weeks, you’ll ponder why sleep isn’t prescribed.