5 Unexpected Benefits of Sleep

If you have encountered any of our content on our website or social media, then you are probably well aware of the many benefits of sleep. But have you ever wondered, “What benefits can I get from sleeping that are not as obvious?” We have. 

The importance of sleep goes far beyond feeling refreshed when you wake up. Getting quality sleep touches many aspects of our health and daily lives, affecting everything from our mood to our physical appearance. 

What does sleep help with? 

The benefits of sleep that may be more unexpected include:

• Helps you relieve stress naturally
• Boosts your memory and other brain functions
• Boosts your creativity
• Helps your muscles recover faster
• Improves the appearance and health of your skin

To reap these sleep benefits, you need to make sure that you are getting enough sleep each night. How much sleep do I really need? You should be getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep every night to allow your body enough time to go through its many regenerative processes. Sleep deprivation can have countless negative side effects on your body’s ability to function, so be sure to prioritize getting healthy rest every night. 

If you’re ready to improve your quality of life, let’s discuss five unexpected benefits of sleep that you may not be aware of.

1. Natural stress reliever 

Sleep and stress affect each other greatly and can create a dangerous cycle. When we experience stress, our body releases a chemical called “cortisol” (the stress hormone), temporarily increasing our blood sugar for a boost of energy to get through a stressful situation. In a healthy cycle, cortisol and melatonin (the sleep hormone) work together to help us fall asleep each night and wake up each morning. 

However, if you’re not managing your stress levels well, the cortisol in your body will keep you awake because it thinks you’re in danger. Even if you do manage to fall asleep, you’re more likely to toss and turn and experience other disturbances. 

In other words, if you’re stressed, you can’t sleep — and if you can’t sleep, your body becomes more stressed. See our blog on how sleep affects mental health for more information. Quality sleep allows your body to regulate stress hormones, which in turn helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels, which will become more important to manage properly as you get older. Sleep well, and stress less.

2. Memory booster

When you don’t sleep well, do you notice how difficult it is to focus? You drag yourself to work or school the next morning, and no amount of caffeine is able to sharpen your mind. This is for a reason.

As we sleep, our brains are working hard to clear out all of the unnecessary information and properly store the important information. Think of it like this: there are little secretaries in your brain using a filing system every night. Without proper sleep, those secretaries can’t do their jobs correctly, resulting in misplaced information and memory problems. 

Sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, the process by which short-term memories are transformed into long-term ones. With a clearer mind, you’ll be able to remember the new skills that you learned for any new information you acquired. If you’re preparing for a big presentation or an important exam, try to prioritize getting quality sleep instead of pulling an all-nighter.

3. Creativity booster

During sleep, we experience a sleep stage called REM (rapid eye movement), where our brain is the most active. For example, dreams typically occur during the REM cycle. Because the REM stage is closely linked to creative thinking and problem-solving, your brain makes connections between seemingly unrelated ideas and experiences. In other words, when you wake up, your brain will be able to think more creatively during the day.

Sleep deprivation can seriously affect your creative thinking because your brain can’t focus or process information properly. If you enjoy creative endeavors like writing, music, or art, you may find it harder to perform at your best on little sleep. 

To keep those creative juices flowing, be sure to head to bed at a reasonable time and get the rest your brain and body need.

4. Muscle builder

If you have fitness goals, you’ll want to prioritize your time sleeping just as much as your time in the gym. Working out and sleeping go hand-in-hand. Quality sleep helps you to get the most out of your workout and exercising helps you to sleep better. Sleeping doesn’t just help with your energy levels, it is also crucial for muscle growth and recovery.

When you’re experiencing deep sleep, your body releases the growth hormone that helps to repair and strengthen your muscles. Sleep also helps to reduce inflammation in the body which will aid in preventing injuries and excessive soreness post-workout. 

Without proper sleep, your workouts will suffer, and your body will have trouble repairing from your workouts. Imagine putting all of that effort into your exercise routine and not being able to reap any of the benefits! 

Whether you’re an athlete or a health enthusiast looking to build muscle, your sleep schedule should be just as important as your workout schedule. 

5. Ultimate skincare 

Did you know that beauty sleep is real? When it comes to skincare, quality sleep may be more important than your serums, moisturizers, and cleansers. Not to mention it’s cheaper. All jokes aside, the benefits of sleep for skin health are numerous, yet often overlooked. Good sleep: 

• Reduces breakouts
• Reduces inflammation and irritation
• Reduces sun spots and scarring
• Reduces wrinkles and fine lines
• Helps your skincare products better absorb into your skin
• Makes your skin appear brighter and plumper

So, how does it do this? During the night, the skin repair cycle is at its peak performance. Your skin is working hard to repair cell damage, initiate cell turnover, and produce new cells and collagen (the protein responsible for maintaining your skin’s elasticity). 

Without proper sleep, your body can’t carry out these processes to help improve your skin, meaning all that time, money, and energy spent on skin regimes is fruitless. If you want healthy, glowing skin, add “quality sleep” to your skincare routine. Plus, products can cost a pretty penny, but sleep is always free.

Prioritizing good sleep habits isn’t just about avoiding the negative effects of sleep deprivation — it’s about unlocking your body’s potential for better health, creativity, and performance. So, you may be thinking, “How can I get the best sleep possible?”

The answer is simple: invest in your perfect mattress.

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Reap the Full Benefits of Sleep with a Texas Mattress Makers Mattress

Here’s the truth: nothing that we listed above matters if you’re sleeping on a bad mattress. Your sleep quality depends highly on what you decide to lie on every single night. A good mattress is the foundation of your sleep quality, meaning it should be a top priority if you’re interested in improving any area of your life.

We take the importance of sleep seriously; so seriously, in fact, we’ve spent decades helping countless customers find their perfect mattresses for a better night’s sleep. Our mattresses are made right here in our Downtown Houston factory using only the highest quality materials we can source locally. The quality of our components, combined with the expertise of our craftsmen, allows us to provide you with a selection of mattresses that will give you all of the benefits of sleep and more. Plus, our low, factory-direct prices can’t be beaten.

Invest in your health and quality of life by visiting any of our Houston-area mattress stores today. Our experts are ready to match you with the right mattress for your needs.

More Helpful Articles by Texas Mattress Makers:

• How to Find a Good Quality Mattress
• Solutions for the Most Common Sleep Problems
• Tips for What To Do If You Can’t Fall Asleep
• Signs You Aren’t Getting Enough Sleep
• 4 Signs You Are a Hot Sleeper