While it is true that sleeping more can help you to lose weight, it is not necessarily the case that sleeping less will help you to achieve your weight loss goals. In fact, there are several different approaches that you can use to reduce your sleeping hours and still lose weight successfully. So, before we get into that, let’s examine the various reasons that people might want to reduce their sleep hours.
Health Benefits
As we already mentioned, sleeping more can help you to lose weight. In fact, there are several health benefits that you can attain by waking up and undertaking a little bit of exercise. If you want to know more, then you should read our guide on the health benefits of sleep. However, while the number one reason that people might want to reduce their sleep hours is to lose weight, there are several other reasons why they might want to do this.
Lifestyle Benefits
There are several other reasons why people might want to reduce their sleep hours. For example, if you are a busy individual who can’t stand sitting down and relaxing, then getting some extra sleep every now and then can be beneficial. If you think about it, a lot of our day is spent at work, sitting down at our desks. So, if you can take a quick break every now and then to go for a walk, then this can only be a good thing. Furthermore, if you lead a very active lifestyle, then getting some extra sleep can help you to maintain a healthy weight. If this sounds like you, then consider reading this excellent article on the benefits of sleep for runners. However, if you don’t run or walk much, then this might not be the best option for you.
Increase Productivity
It is no secret that getting more sleep can help you to be more productive. In a study from the United Kingdom, participants were asked to keep track of their sleep hours and then were divided into three groups. The first group was asked to increase their waking hours by several hours, the second group was asked to decrease their waking hours by several hours, and the third group was asked to remain at their usual sleep hours. After one month, it was found that the first group had increased their work performance by 17% and their overall productivity by 27%. The second group had decreased their work performance by 21% and their overall productivity by 16%. And the third group, which was asked to sleep at their usual hours, had no change in either work performance or overall productivity. So, if you are looking to be more productive, then one way to do this is by reducing your sleep hours.
A Better Night’s Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is important. In addition to helping you maintain a healthy weight, sleeping more can also help you to improve the quality of your night’s sleep. There are several different things that you can do to get a better night’s sleep. You can take a sleep hygiene education course to learn more about good sleep practices. You can also consider reading a good book or listening to some nice music. Sometimes a warm bath or a glass of wine can also do the trick. Whatever it might be, identifying and changing your own bad sleeping habits can help you to get the night’s sleep that you really want. So, if you are looking to improve the quality of your sleep, then you might want to consider reducing your sleep hours.
Eco-Friendly Products
We all love cheap and easy ways to lose weight, right? You don’t have to be super-rich to buy organic mattresses and pillows. In fact, you can buy these eco-friendly products quite cheaply. If you have a spare room, then why not consider turning it into a humidifier? With these devices, you won’t need to boil the kettle every hour, as the water content of the air is sufficient. Not only will this save you money and reduce your energy consumption, it will also reduce the amount of plastic bags and aluminum cans that you’ll otherwise be throwing away. If you find that you are regularly wasting food due to over-consumption, then it might be a good idea to invest in a meal prep kit. These will help you to organize your meals and snacks ahead of time, so you’ll never end up wasting any food again. Furthermore, if you prepare your food ahead of time, then you won’t be tempted to make unhealthy food choices during those “moment of weakness” moments when your hunger gets the better of you.
Reduce Stress
Stress is bad for us. Whether it’s chronic stress or acute stress, both result in the same thing: an increase in weight. One of the best things that you can do for yourself on your journey to weight loss is to reduce your stress as much as possible. And while getting a full seven to eight hours of sleep can certainly reduce your stress levels, there are several other things that you can do as well. You can read our guide to getting rid of stress, which helps you to understand how stressing out will only result in you gaining weight. In addition to this, you can also listen to relaxing soundscapes, take a walk, or do some yoga. Whatever it might be, finding ways to reduce your stress levels will certainly help you to lose weight successfully.
Just Feel Better
There is a reason why people have been known to say that sleeping more can make you feel better. When you get a good night’s sleep, your mind and body are both able to relax and repair themselves. So, not only does sleeping more help you to lose weight, it can also help you to feel more relaxed and refreshed. Many people notice that just because they get more sleep, their mood improves considerably. And if this sounds like you, then you might want to consider reducing your sleep hours to better reflect a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Sleeping more can help you to lose weight. However, as you can see, there are several different ways in which sleeping less can still help you to reach your weight loss goals. So, instead of trying to reduce your sleep hours to lose weight, why not focus on reducing your bad habits and then see what happens? In the meantime, don’t forget to practice healthy sleep habits so that you can get the most out of your sleeping hours.