Why sleep is important
Although you may not associate sleep with losing weight, it is in fact a huge factor in helping you lose weight. Sleep allows our bodies to repair cells, help digest food, and even aid in burning fat by regulating our hormones that affect hunger and apetite. Sleeping a proper amount of hours everyday can help you in building and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, so don't ignore it.
When you sleep you are not only allowing yourself to rest, but your body is given crucial time to maintain function and keep you alive and well. When you don't sleep enough, you are exposing yourself to many risks and potential illness. Your stress levels can stay elevated, your blood pressure and heart function will worsen, and you may notice that your mood can worsen significantly. In the topic of weight loss, not getting enough sleep can actually hinder your progress as your body can be stressed out and trigger a response to hold on to body fat. Having proper sleep is a good idea for many different aspects within your life.
How to sleep properly
In order to sleep properly, you must prepare for sleep beforehand. Avoid eating food too close to bed, preferably having your last meal a couple hours before you go to sleep, allowing your body enough time to break down foods just enough so it doesn't disturb you while you try to sleep. Make sure you are hydrated and avoid taking caffeine atleast 8-10 hours before bedtime. Try your best to avoid electronics close to bedtime and keep your bedroom dark and relaxing. And above all, be consistent with the time you go to bed and wake up, even on the weekends. Having set times can allow your body to build a habit to fall asleep and wake up easier at those times.