With all of the demands during a typical day as an adult and as a parent, it can be hard to get the sleep you need (and deserve). It is often the first thing to go when prioritizing your duties and tasks during a busy week. However, even just one night of shortened or poor sleep can cause unpleasant effects the next day.

Getting the proper amount of sleep is crucial to your daily health as well as your long-term health. Our AFC Urgent Care Indian Trail team wants you to get more sleep, so check out our latest blog with some tips below.

How Much Sleep Should I Be Getting?

The amount of sleep a person needs varies by age. For children ages 3 to 5 years, 10 to 13 hours of sleep is recommended at night. Teenagers benefit from at least eight to 10 hours! If you have children in your home and those numbers seem really high to you, you are not alone. It can be hard to encourage your kids to prioritize sleep.

For adults, you should aim for between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. In addition, these hours should be undisturbed as much as possible! Long stretches of uninterrupted sleep allows you to cycle through the sleep cycles you need in order to get a restorative night’s rest.

Signs You Need to Sleep More

• Fatigue throughout the day, especially in the afternoon
• Under eye circles or red eyes
• Difficulty concentrating during the day
• Difficulty waking up with your alarm or in the morning

Why Is Poor Sleep Bad for My Health?

If you don’t get enough sleep, your body will start to suffer. You become at a heightened risk for heart disease, dementia, obesity and diabetes. It can also start to affect your mental health as well.

A proper night’s sleep helps boost your nervous system function, so without enough sleep, it can be harder to remember things during the day or concentrate on important tasks. People who don’t get enough sleep are also at a higher risk of accidents, both in the workplace and in daily life.

Habits to Improve Your Sleep

• Be consistent with your routine.
• Make your bedroom dark and relaxing.
• Remove screens like TVs, phones and tablets
• Avoid heavy or rich foods, caffeine and alcohol right before bedtime.
  

We are always here for you. Stop by AFC Urgent Care Indian Trail for quality care today.