Importance of sleep

You just ran a new record with your personal trainer in Frankfurt. And now what? You are not only sweaty, but also pleasantly tired. The body is exhausted and needs its regeneration time. It does not only needs this time to regain its strength, but also to increase overall physical and mental performance.

How important is sleep?

In view of the fact that people simply oversleep about a third of their lives, you may have asked yourself: How important is sleep? Isn't it just a waste of time just to lie in your pillows and do nothing?

Researchers agree: lack of sleep damages the body and eventually that takes its toll. Sleep deprivation is regarded as a method of torture for a reason! Hallucinations can occur already after 24 hours without sleep. Our body cannot challenge and regenerate at the same time, yet it works at full speed during sleep.

Those who sleep regularly enough are physically and mentally fitter, healthier and in a better mood. Immune system also benefits from enough sleep, which means that a person with enough sleep will fall ill less frequently. It is a cycle: Anyone who feels rested and efficient will be more optimistic and enjoy life more. Positive attitudes make many things easier to achieve and lead to success. This shows that good sleep, along with a healthy diet and sufficient exercise, is a foundation of human health and well-being.

How long should one sleep?

If you have explored Frankfurt with your personal trainer during your sport activities, you will answer the question "How long should you sleep?" with "at least 10 to 15 hours". But that's not right, of course. The body needs between seven and nine hours of sleep to get fit and ready again. The need for sleep varies from person to person. Some get along with only six hours, others need nine hours sleep per day. Even those who like to claim that they can cope with only five hours should consider how much sleep a body really needs. This is because not enough sleep is often stimulated with small aids such as coffee. However, deficits in performance soon become apparent.

Moreover, vice versa, one can sleep too much. Researchers have shown that too much sleep can increase the risk of diabetes and the development of depression. Of course, this does not have to be the case and a person who simply has a great need for sleep does not necessarily become depressed or develop diabetes. Nevertheless, it is important to find the optimal measure. The following questions can be helpful:

  • Do you feel fit in the morning?
  • Are you slightly irritated during the day or rather relaxed?
  • Can you work through your sports program as usual?
  • Do you need caffeine to get through the day?
  • Is there a chance to fall asleep in phases of low performance (according to your own biorhythm)?
  • Do you find it difficult to concentrate?

It is important to observe over a longer period. Maybe you just do not feel fit and capable because you have a cold or because you simply partied too long yesterday. However, it makes sense to know one's own sleeping needs and to do something good for the body, because you stay healthier with enough sleep in the long run.

Do we sleep longer in winter?

We humans usually suffer from spring tiredness and in winter have the feeling that we have to fall into hibernation because we feel so tired. Body produces more melatonin during the dark season. This hormone ensures that we can sleep and that we experience the important sleep phases without interruptions. This gives the body enough time to regenerate and process what it has experienced during the day. Body works during night like never before during the day and even the muscle build-up is stimulated by the active metabolism. Heart and circulation recover and the pulse becomes significantly slower. It falls to around 50 beats per minute during sleep. Blood pressure drops, which relieves the heart. Enough sleep also reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Important fact: Sleeping between seven and eight hours is healthier for the body than several so-called "power naps" spread over the day.