Why you should re-think your ‘all-nighter’

Are you one of those people who pull all-nighters when life gets busy? If so, you need to read this!

Why you should rethink  your all-nighter

 

Whether it’s to study for an exam, meet a deadline or to keep partying, most of us have pulled all-nighters in our lifetime. However, research shows that perhaps they’re not as harmless as we first thought.

What is an all-nighter?

An all-nighter occurs when you stay awake during normal sleep hours to do something else. At first glance, all-nighters might seem like positive things. After all, you can get a lot more done if you skimp on sleep. But this kind of sleep deprivation is not something you should aim for.

What happens when you pull an all-nighter?

Basically, pulling an all-nighter means you are voluntarily skipping sleep. Most commonly, people pull all-nighters to focus on study or deadlines for work or school. However, some people (especially young people) stay awake all night so they can continue socialising, reading or playing on electronic devices.

How does it affect you?

It’s well established that sleep is vital for our overall health and wellbeing. Even skipping just one night of sleep can have some significant effects. For example:

Impaired brain function — Sleep deprivation reduces attention span and concentration, slows reaction time and impairs critical thinking. It also interferes with your memory.

Excessive daytime sleepiness — Skipping sleep also leads to daytime sleepiness, which will impact your work, study and general safety. Those who engage in all-nighters are more likely to make errors and have serious accidents, especially if they operate machinery or are in charge of a vehicle.

Bad mood — You probably know that when you’re tired, you’re more likely to be a bit grumpy. Sleep deprivation causes you to feel irritable and angry and leads to increased stress, anxiety, and depression.

Compromised health and wellbeing — A night without sleep can lower your immune system, and raise pain sensitivity. If repeated regularly, it can also interfere with your more regular sleep routine.

How to recover from an all-nighter

If you do end up pulling an all-nighter, here are a few tips to help you recover.

  • Drink plenty of water and avoid excess caffeine
  • Eat healthy food
  • Aim to fit in a short nap if possible
  • Try to get to bed at your normal time (or as close to it as possible) the next night
  • Avoid operating machinery, driving a vehicle, or making important decisions.

It can take weeks for your body to recover from the disturbance to your circadian rhythm, but following the above tips can help you recover faster.

What should you do instead?

Obviously, pulling an all-nighter isn’t the wisest move given the effects it has on your overall health and wellbeing.

If you have major projects for school or work, plan ahead and start working on them ahead of time. Don’t leave things to the last minute. Avoid skipping sleep for the entire night and try to get a few hours of shut-eye.

At Bedguard, we have a wide range of mattresses, so comfortable, that you won’t want to skimp on your sleep. Browse our range online, or come in-store today.

 

 

 

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