1 / 11
Photo: Shutterstock/fizkes
Better Sleep, Better Health
You know why it’s important to sleep. This is when your body and mind rest and recharge in order to function well the next day. But there’s much more. “It’s difficult to find an aspect of physical or mental wellbeing that doesn’t depend on a good night’s sleep,” says Natalie D. Dautovich, Ph.D., environmental fellow at the non-profit National Sleep Foundation and an assistant professor in psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University. “From the ability to ward off illness, to better cognitive, emotional, social functioning, as well as lowering risk for numerous cancers and health conditions, healthy sleep is a critical foundation for our overall health.” Read on for 10 ways to get a better night’s rest.