806 Health Tip: This is Why You Need More Sleep

Some nights you get great sleep. Then there are those nights that the dogs wake you up or you have to get up to use the restroom.

Maybe you just can't fall asleep. You may be the one that can't stay asleep. Either way can mean problems for you. Experts recommend that you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep.

Man, I would love for that to be a possibility for me. I bet you do too. Here are some ways that getting less than that can hurt you.

You can wind up getting less distracted. Your mind won't be able to focus. When you are tired your brain looks for those distractions to keep you awake. Maybe you think you are prone to multi-tasking when really no, you need more sleep. This way you can get your mind to focus on one project at a time.

Do you find yourself being a little more on the cranky side when you don't get much sleep? Well you do have a shorter fuse. That lack of sleep can make you less patient with your kids and co-workers. If you don't get enough sleep you can get more annoyed by little things.

Lack of sleep can also make you feel more anxious. You may even feel like you have an anxiety disorder, when really you just need more sleep.

If you find yourself on the short side of sleep there are some things you can do to get you through. Get outside. Just the feeling of that sun on your face can help make you feel more alert. You need to take breaks to move around and even stretch. If you are a coffee drinker go ahead and have a cup. If you don't like coffee maybe you can grab a cup of tea.

Of course the best fix for all of this is to get a good night sleep. You always feel so much better overall when you are well rested.