Why Sleep Should Be Your New Year’s Resolution

The beginning of a new year symbolizes a clean slate for many people. After an especially tough year like the one we’ve all had in 2020, setting personal goals and having a fresh start can be extra appealing. One of the ways that people embrace the hope of a new year is through New Year’s resolutions. It may not be that surprising, but sleep is rarely on our priority lists as a goal for a New Year. Here are 4 reasons why your main New Year’s resolution should be sleep.

Sleep Makes All Other Resolutions More Achievable

The most common resolutions include exercising more, saving money, eating healthier and losing weight. Having a proper night's sleep can positively impact the ability to achieve any and all of these goals. 

Proper and quality sleep is linked to memory, weight management, heart health, mental health and mood (just to name a few). Having a proper sleep routine can reduce stress, make mornings more enjoyable and give you energy to achieve whatever else is on your resolution list. 

Even if you don’t want to prioritize sleep or if your main goal is something like better eating habits, exercising or health - sleep can help! 

Sleep Is A 100% Achievable Goal

80% of people give up on their resolutions by mid-February. One of the biggest reasons people end up giving up on their resolutions is their lack of specific goals. “Exercise more” can mean anything from a half hour walk three times a week or an hour long intense training session every day.  False Hope Syndrome happens when people have unrealistic expectations or ideas about how long it will take or how difficult it will be to achieve their New Year’s resolutions. The fresh start of the new year can be quickly overtaken by frustration, disappointment and lack of motivation. Making sleep a resolution will never make you feel this way. 

Every single person needs to sleep anyways. Making it a priority to make that sleep quality sleep will change your day to day life.

Sleep is perhaps the easiest, most achievable goal out there. It costs no money and you can feel great after even a single night of a good night’s rest. It only takes 7-8 hours of sleep a night to reap the benefits. For those who have a longer history of not getting enough sleep, sleep deprivation can be eliminated from your system in as little as 9 days. 

Imagine waking up every single day already feeling like you accomplished something of value to improve your physical and mental health. It really is that easy. 

Have A Better Winter Season & Combat Winter Tiredness

New Years hits right before the darkest stretch of the year. For many people the holiday season is a source of light and warmth in the drab dark of winter. When we move past the holiday season and continue on towards March, the cold and dark days can make us lethargic and moody. Proper sleep habits and having a bed-time routine can help combat winter tiredness. 

Winter tiredness happens because our bodies respond to the darker days by creating more melatonin. Melatonin is the sleep hormone created naturally within our bodies. Other things that can help combat winter tiredness are exercising, finding time to relax and unwind and general health-care practices. The number one tip for combating winter tiredness is - of course - proper sleep habits. 

Prioritizing Sleep Can Results in Many Other Positive Habits

When you prioritize sleep and begin to feel more rested during the day, other healthy life habits are sure to follow. Prioritizing sleep goes hand in hand with other positive routines such as reducing screen time an hour before bed, having a proper hygiene routine pre- and post-sleep, and more stable sleep and wake up times.  Restful sleep leads to more energy during the day for activities and exercise.  With things like mood and creativity being boosted by snoozing, work performance and creativity is sure to increase as sleep quality improves. 

Making sleep your New Year’s resolution is perhaps the best thing that you could do for yourself for the new year. Embrace the easiest way to practice self-care and make sleep a priority in 2021.