I am writing this as I lay in my unbelievably comfortable twin extra-long dorm room bed at college. While this probably doesn’t sound appealing to most, I can’t find many things I enjoy more than laying in my bed for hours on end on a Friday afternoon after I’ve finished classes for the week. I love crawling into my bed every night and hearing my limbs sigh with relief as I lay prostrate and allow all physical and mental tension to be released from my body with an audible breath and permission for gravity to push me into my mattress pad. I love curling up with my pillows and a good book as I hide away from the world on a rainy day. But there is nothing, nothing better than falling asleep under the subtle weight of my duvet and feeling the cushion of pillows beneath my weary head.

There are far too many people who never get to experience these feelings. It’s entirely unfair that people suffer from lack of basic amenities and so many of us take this luxury for granted. Sleep is incredible. It’s a time in which our bodies shut down and rejuvenate while still keeping us safe within our delicate shells. But unfortunately, in college, sleep becomes somewhat of a luxury. We are expected to balance a number of activities, including studying, working, exercising, and socializing, to name a few, and somehow get adequate sleep, because it’s what we need to thrive. This isn’t exactly a reality for a lot of individuals who are determined to succeed or to prove a point of fortitude to someone, somewhere. But my God, sleeping is wonderful.

And it’s wonderful for you. There are so many benefits to getting some shuteye that, in my opinion, it’s worth surrendering that fourth Starbucks of the day to get some quality sleep. As I drift off into dreamland, I’ve decided to highlight what I would consider to be the best benefits of sleeping in the hopes of maybe inspiring you catch a bit more “zzz” this week:

It helps you lose weight by speeding up your metabolism while you sleep.

It improves your memory by processing memories from the day prior.

It helps your stay healthier longer because sleeping improves your immune system.

It leads to a better sex life because it helps you, well, stay awake and alert longer.

It can help relieve some chronic pain because, as scientists have discovered, sleep is so powerful it can be used as substitute for main medication.

It leads to all around better health by reducing the chance for heart disease and diabetes through improved cardiovascular function.

Information based from:

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/sleep/10-reas...

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/9-re...

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20459221,0...