Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Getty Images
It seems simple.
When you feel tired, it’s crucial that you sleep.
However, other signs that it’s crucial that you get more rest may be less clear.
Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Getty Images
Dark Circles
The skin around your eyes is the thinnest and most fragile on your body.
Muscle Aches
If you have mysterious aches and pains, it could be that you’re lacking sleep.
Stress can do it, too.
You may take longer to do familiar tasks, you make more mistakes, your reaction time is slowed.
Actions like driving can be more hazardous, and you may act more impulsively.
Cognitive functions like learning, memory, and attention are not as sharp.
Motor skills can also be affected.
Low Motivation
Sleep deprivationcan affect brain circuitry involved in how much you value the amount of effort you make.
If you’re sleep-deprived, an extra push may not feel worth it.
Your eyesight may be blurred because your eyes are too tired to make rapid adjustments.
Eye twitches can be another sign of too-tired eyes, which may feel more sensitive to light.
Memory Lapses
Your brain needs rest to file away all that’s happened each day for future reference.
Weight Gain
Sleep deprivation can cause you to confuse tiredness with hunger.
Sleep is also important to balance hormones that are connected to hunger.
If you’re rested, you may have moreleptin, which is associated with feeling full.
Moodiness and Feeling Irritated
Sleep and mood are closely related.
If you’re tired, you are more likely to become irritated.
Tired people often respond more strongly to stressful situations and have fewer positive reactions to daily experiences.
Anxiety and mood disorders can also cause insomnia, creating a vicious cycle.
If you are experiencing anxiety or feel withdrawn or sad, consider how well you’ve been sleeping.
Sleep deprivation can have a complicated effect on your libidothe desire for sex.
Some of it is psychological, and some is physiological.
It may also lead to greater dissatisfaction with sexual activity in women.
Women who get enough sleep may notice an increase in both the desire for sex and physical arousal.
When you sleep, the blood flow to your skin increases, which helps repair and prevent skin damage.
Your immune system needs sleep to function well.
There are many signs that you’re not getting enough sleep besides feeling simply tired.
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