Even a single night of poor sleep can impact your daily life. After just one night, symptoms may include cognitive impairment, mood changes, microsleeping, and weakened judgement. People suffering from cognitive impairment will suffer from reduced concentration, a lessened memory, and slower reaction times. Mood changes include experiencing anxiety, escalated irritability, and a “shorter fuse.” When individuals don’t have enough sleep, microsleeping or brief, involuntary moments of sleep, are more likely to occur. If someone misses sleep or has chronic sleep deprivation over the course of weeks, months, or years, then the hours will accumulate into serious consequences. These actions are linked to a variety of serious health conditions such as cardiovascular issues, metabolic disorders, weight gain, a weakened immune system, poor mental health, and neurological decline. 

To improve your sleep, some tips include sticking to a routine, limiting naps, and following the 20-minute rule. By sticking to a routine, your body begins to memorize the time you wake up and go to sleep. Limiting naps, especially later in the day, allows your body to get the rest it needs during the night. The 20-minute rule essentially states that if you aren’t asleep after 20-minutes, get out of bed and do something relaxing until you feel drowsy. To optimize your environment for better sleep, you can also keep your bedroom cool, remove any lights, and control the distracting noise.