The Aging Mistake
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What you believe are the effects of aging are actually the impacts of a lack of sleep. Short-term impacts of a lack of sleep can be reversed much easier than those developed over years of not getting the recommended amount of rest. For example, weight gain will take the right mindset, an exercise regimen, and a well-balanced diet to combat. And that’s only one of the impacts of a lack of sleep at night.
Whether you are curious about the symptoms of a lack of sleep or wondering if they can be reversed, I’ve got the answer for you right here.
Changes In Mood
Let’s start with the most obvious symptom of a lack of sleep. When we don’t get enough sleep, we tend to be groggy, easily frustrated, and more emotional than usual. Everything that happens or doesn’t happen throughout the day seems to be serious. I know you’ve had that day where it seemed like everything wrong that could happen is happening.
But the truth is you have had worse days. You just don’t have the physical, mental, or emotional strength to deal with it because you’ve slept an average of 5 hours each night over the last week. There is a reason that a lack of sleep is called sleep deprivation. It deprives you of your ability to handle situations you would typically handle had you gotten the rest your body and mind needed.
Forgetfulness
We are humans, not robots. Therefore, it’s normal for us not to remember every piece of information uploaded into our brains. But, you will notice that you even forget the little things when you don’t get enough rest. Ever packed your lunch and walked right by it sitting on the counter and not realize you left it until you got to work?
Remembering to grab your bag, the keys, the phone, and your coffee overloaded your brain so that it didn’t have enough room to focus on lunch. That’s the effect of a lack of sleep on your short-term memory.
As we sleep, our brain works to create connections that allow us to remember more information. The process of sorting thoughts and repairing neural connections happens when we sleep. Forgetfulness is not always a result of aging.
In fact, I know a few individuals over the age of 70 that are mentally sharp and have great memories. They get at least seven hours of sleep each night and even take naps throughout the day.
Trouble Focusing
Having trouble focusing goes hand in hand with forgetfulness. Concentrating on your work takes more effort. Creativity becomes writer’s block and thoughts of “I don’t feel like it.” It’s not always that you have lost interest or motivation or that you are at the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s just that your body is operating in survival mode.
Whatever is not needed to survive is turned off. Unfortunately, that is more than likely the parts of the brain that you need the most. It’s the same as turning off the air conditioner in the car when the gas light comes on. The goal is to increase the number of miles you can drive before you get to the gas tank by reverting all the energy to the motor.
Anything that burns excess needs to be turned off...Read More
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