Thankful for Sleep
As a company with American employees working in countries all over the world, Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday. We get the opportunity to share it with people who have never once tasted the savory joy of homemade stuffing or experienced the catatonic slumber that comes before your next round of leftovers.
A favorite tradition is going around the table and saying one thing we are thankful for. Not just for the boozy toast after each one, but because it captures the spirit of the holiday:
Gratitude
No matter where you live in this world, one thing we should all be grateful for is sleep. If you think that makes you sound lazy or boring, read some of the amazing benefits that a good night’s sleep can do, and why you should be thankful.
Benefits
Improves Memory
Through a process called “consolidation” that happens while you sleep, you are able to strengthen your memories or ‘practice’ skills learned while you were awake.
Be thankful that if you can’t remember to sleep more, the solution is to sleep more.
Supports Weight Loss
Researchers have found that dieters who were well rested lost more fat—56% of their weight loss—than those who were sleep deprived, who lost more muscle mass.
Be thankful that no gym membership or fancy yoga pants are required.
Controls Cravings
Sleep and metabolism are controlled by the same sectors of the brain so when you are sleepy, certain hormones go up in your blood, and those same hormones drive appetite.
Be thankful that your new midnight snack is a REM cycle.
Lessens Pain
Getting enough sleep can actually reduce chronic and acute pain, acting as free, natural medication for pain.
Be thankful that sleep sounds a lot more pleasant than “just rub some dirt on it.”
Strengthens Immunity
Studies show that people who get less than 7 hours of sleep were 3 times more likely to get sick.
Be thankful that this inoculation doesn't involve needles.
Heightens Performance
A study found that college football players who tried to sleep at least 10 hours a night for seven to eight weeks improved their average sprint time and had less daytime fatigue and more stamina.
Be thankful less fatigue and more stamina also applies in the bedroom wink, wink.
So if this Thanksgiving, you’re not grateful for sleep, maybe it’s time to make a change—
Take our Sleep Personality Quiz and be thankful for a better night sleep built just for you.