Dangers of Limited Sleep

Many factors could be causing you to lose sleep. Luckily, there are things you can do about it to turn those bad habits into good ones.

Service members and shift workers are more likely to experience sleep disturbances, which can lead to:

• Weight gain. Sleeping too little may prompt you to eat bigger portions and/or crave junk food. 
• Impaired memory. Lack of sleep can affect your ability to think, remember, and process information. 
• Impaired reaction time. Lack of sleep puts you at a higher risk for accidents. Going 17 to 19 hours without sleep impacts you as much or more than having a 0.05% blood alcohol content.
• Moodiness. You may find it more difficult to regulate your emotions, which may result in conflicts and arguments with others.
• Impaired physical performance. When you don’t get enough sleep, you may find yourself not being able to finish your workout or struggling to complete a manual work task. 
• Impairs your mental performance. Reduced concentration and attention to detail.

Do something about it!

• Make time for downtime.
• Make sleep part of your routine.
• Check supplement labels. Many pre-workout supplements contain caffeine and/or herbal stimulants, so consuming these later in the day may be keeping you up at night.
• Track the amount of caffeine you are consuming and when in the day you are doing it. Gradually cut back on the amount you are consuming and pay attention to how late you are doing it.  
• Keep a consistent bedtime and wake time.
• Prepare yourself for sleep by turning off electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime.
• Only use the bedroom for sleep and intimacy.

If you have questions about sleep, contact your local Semper Fit team and ask about Sleep Coaching.