How Staying Up All Night Can Ruin Your Health
By Genevieve Cunningham
We’ve all done it, and most of us have even been proud of the accomplishment. Staying up late is sometimes seen as a badge of honor. It means we must be working harder than everyone else or be too superhuman to need sleep. While this mindframe may work during the teenage years, pulling all-nighters comes with consequences as we get older. If you’re quite the night owl, take a look at how it may be damaging your health, followed by some tips for getting it under control.
Lack of Rest Means Higher Rates of Illness
This may not be the case in 100 percent of all people, but it’s true that a lack of adequate rest can lead to a weakened immune system. The body simply does not have time to rejuvenate, so important body systems are unable to work as efficiently as they should. This means when illness strikes, the body is unable to fight it off, which may leave you rundown. If illness seems to be a staple in your life, watch your late night habits to determine whether it may be a cause.
Anxiety and Depression are More Prevalent in Night Owls
While all sorts of people develop both anxiety and depression, the rates seem to be slightly higher in people who stay up late hours at night. Doctors speculate that this may be a combination of a lack of sunlight, which is essential for boosting moods, and a lack of rest, which is essential for overall body health. If you find your thoughts creeping toward excessive worry or even dread at normal day’s tasks, it might be a signal to get more sleep at the appropriate times of the day.
Tips for Managing All-Nighters
Sometimes staying up all night is unavoidable. And like it or not, some people are simply wired to stay up later than others. If you lean towards the nighttime hours, take a look at these tips for keeping it under control.
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Set a Time Limit - If you simply must stay up late, set a bedtime and stick with it. Even if that time is relatively late in the night, it’s a start in the right direction.
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Force Yourself Up Earlier - If you’re ready to turn things around completely, go ahead and wake up early in the morning. While this will make for a few very sleepy mornings, it will eventually even out and you’ll be more tired at the end of the day.
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Adjust Your Schedule - If you’re going to stay up all night, at least adjust your schedule to ensure that you’re not skimping on total hours. And if you’d rather break the habit, schedule all of your important tasks for the morning so that getting up is a necessity.
All in all, staying up late can truly damage your overall health and well-being. Even if you can’t break the habit completely, be aware of the complications and take action when necessary. With some planning, some change, and the right frame of mind, you can find the appropriate balance to keep your life and your health in balance.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.