Sleep Now or Forever Hold Your Ojeras
Sleep. You know you want it, you know you need it, but sometimes, you know you’re just not going to get it. Although it may not be very easy to be consistently sleeping 6-8 hours every night, the proper amount of sleep is nothing less than essential. Not only does loss of sleep result in excessive yawning and (mostly cranky or dramatic) mood swings, but it also affects your physical appearance. Here are a couple of facts about why you have to sleep, and why you may want to reconsider an earlier bedtime.
Now, you may still be wondering- what the hell are “ojeras”? Well, translated from Spanish to English, “ojeras” means “eyebags”, which are those pesky dark circles that form under your eyes and seem to get deeper the longer you stay awake. These are also known as one of the top indicators that you just didn’t sleep enough the night before. When you don’t get the proper amount of rest, the blood flow in your face decreases and pools around your under-eye, causing these ojeras to develop throughout the day. By the same token, the decrease of blood flow is actually what causes your skin to look dull and ashy in the mornings after a long night. Sleeping for a longer amount of time can help reduce the visibility of your dark circles and allow you to look fresh and ready in the mornings!
Another beauty concern caused from lack of sleep are wrinkles. I know, horrifying. As you’re resting, your skin is actively producing collagen, which is the protein that keeps your skin looking younger, more full, and prevents sagging. When you avoid sleeping, you have to remember that you’re also avoiding the processes that your skin undergoes during sleep. Not to mention that less shut eye, means drier skin. Sleeping 5 hours a night as opposed to sleeping a solid 7, can lead to twice as many wrinkles, and way more visible lines!
You’ve probably never realized, but your hair rejuvenates much like your skin does while you’re hitting the hay. During our slumber, our hair follicles are pumped with the proper nutrients we need for it to grow longer, be stronger, and look shiny! However, reduced sleep takes away from the time our hair needs to finish the job. This, consequently, leaves our hair vulnerable to damage and break easily at any time. Additionally, lack of sleep causes our stress hormone levels to rise. And when stress rises, so does the probability of hair loss. So, making sure that you get at least 8 hours of sleep time each night, can ensure healthier hair!
Sleeping may not seem like a priority all the time, but it definitely affects way more things in your body and your life than you think it does. Whether it’s an adjustment to your daily schedule or a serious reconsideration of your time management skills, make sure to evaluate how much sleep you get each night. Ensuring that you’ll get the proper amount of sleep will keep you looking healthy and happy every day!
Strike Out,
Writer: Mia Permuy
Editor: Savannah Tindall
Graphic Designer: Sophie Li
Tallahassee