The Importance of Sleep for Motivation

 "Motivation is characterized as an active, intentional process directed toward a proposed goal, which depends on the interaction of personal (intrinsic) and environmental (extrinsic) factors" (SAMULSKI, 1995).

Interestingly, lack of sleep can also have a profound effect on our self-control. These late-night fast-food meals are often too weary of willpower to resist temptation. Good self-control takes a lot of effort, and that goes away with sleep deprivation. Without the energy of willpower, people with a lack of sleep tend to gain weight.

Sanjay Patel, a professor of critical care and sleep medicine at Western University, said sleep deprivation is associated with current and future obesity. Without a good night’s sleep, it’s hard to control the temptation of junk food and have the willpower to act. To function properly, your brain needs a lot of glucose. However, when you're tired, your brain quickly depletes your glucose stores and can't absorb or replenish them properly. When your brain recognizes a lack of glucose, it starts craving simple carbohydrates, sugar, and caffeine.

The main purpose of this blog is so that I can motivate myself to exercise. Exercise so that I can maintain my current weight or even lose the excess. Precisely because of this having good sleep is important, because part of my goal is to maintain my weight. 

Have you noticed that lack of sleep often makes you feel very irritable or angry? This is because lack of sleep can lead to a condition called "mild prefrontal dysfunction," in which your brain is no longer able to regulate your mood or focus. In this state, you are more likely to get angry while working on a task, and it is easy to get overwhelmed with emotion. In turn, the effects of sleep deprivation can cause you to perform poorly at work or school because you can't concentrate or lack motivation.

What can cause sleepiness and lack of motivation is also not using the senses healthily, an easy and common example is listening to music at too high volume. This extra distraction demands a greater effort to perform activities that require more attention, hence yawning, distraction, and lack of patience.

The act of sleeping is strictly related to being motivated, it is practically impossible for a person to have a good day without a good night's sleep. Motivation is totally related to the quality of sleep a person has. That's why a good night's sleep is necessary in order to have the motivation to exercise.

Tips for improving sleep:

1- Meditation - Take 10 minutes of meditation every night before bed to calm your mind and stabilize your breathing. Avoid sleeping under stress or anger. Sleep deprivation meditation will greatly improve your ability to function properly.

2- Calm down before bed - avoid stressful tasks that require concentration in bed, like paying bills. Turn off the TV/phone and relax. Your bed should just be a place to sleep.

3- Eliminate distractions - it's important that the bed stays where you sleep. Paying bills online or surfing the web before bed can be a distraction.

5 -Practice good sleep hygiene -- this means going to bed and getting up at about the same time each day. By sticking to this sleep routine, you'll help your body achieve balance.

Bibliography:

https://zenhabits.net/get-sleep/

https://www.thecpapshop.com/blog/motivation-can-be-hindered-by-lack-of-sleep/

SAMULSKI, D. Sport Psychology. Barueri: Manole. 2002.