The Importance of Good Sleep and Causes of Poor Sleep
Why is good sleep important?
Sleep plays a crucial role in your health, positively impacting your body and mind in both the short and long term.
In the short term, good sleep ensures:
- More energy
- Better concentration
- An improved sense of well-being
In the long term, good sleep reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Depression
- Dementia
The average Dutch person sleeps a little over 7 hours per night. However, this can be improved. Read below the possible causes of poor sleep.
What are the consequences of poor sleep?
About 63% of Dutch people are dissatisfied with the quality of their sleep. Young people in particular often experience insufficient and poor sleep, which has negative effects on brain development. Problems resulting from poor sleep can include:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Wake up early
- Daytime fatigue
- Decreased energy
- Faster anger
- gloom
- Poorer concentration
Causes of poor sleep
Poor sleep can have several causes, including:
- Stress : Relationship problems, family problems or financial worries can cause temporary sleep problems. Often these problems disappear once the cause is solved.
- Disrupted sleep pattern : An irregular sleep pattern can be caused by:
- Going to bed at different times
- Too little activity during the day
- Insufficient exposure to daylight
- Excessive screen use in the evening
- Substance use :
- Caffeine : Found in coffee, iced tea, black and green tea, cola and energy drinks. Caffeine in the evening can reduce the quality of your sleep.
- Alcohol and cannabis : Although they can help you fall asleep faster, they reduce the quality of your sleep. You wake up more often and experience less rest.
- Mental health issues : Depression or anxiety can contribute to poorer sleep.
By paying attention to these causes and seeking solutions (internal link to sleep tips), you can improve the quality of your sleep and reduce the consequences of poor sleep.