Sleep Too Little? Signs You Aren’t Getting Enough Sleep

Are you constantly in a bad mood but aren’t sure why? Do you find it hard to focus? Do you feel fatigued during the day, even when you felt like you slept enough?

If so, you might be dealing with a lack of sleep.

Let’s talk about what happens if you sleep too little? And what signs tell, that you aren’t getting enough sleep.

It would be best if you did not underestimate the importance of sleep.

Sufficiently long and sound sleep is essential for functioning and well-being.

The need for sleep is individual, but many still suffer from sleep deprivation. Even if you are in bed for what seems like 7-8 hours a night, that doesn’t mean you are sleeping that long or getting enough rest.

If you recognize these signs in yourself, you should consider whether you are getting enough sleep.

1. You Have Been in a Bad Temper.

When you don’t get enough rest, you are much more vulnerable to mood swings, irritability, and even anger.

Even if you are usually a patient person, lack of sleep can make you irritated easily.

You might find yourself regularly with a bad attitude and don’t even know why. There is a risk that even small things like people being late can make you furious.

According to the study, people with low sleep levels have difficulty reading other’s expressions and gestures. They even start to see non-threatening people as threatening.

When this happens regularly, it is a good idea to try to figure out why this is happening, especially when you can’t figure out any other reason for it.

Try to look at your mood lately and figure out if the moodiness started after your sleep quality went down. Remember that your attitude and spirit don’t just affect you, but your relationships, friends, and other people you meet.

2. You Are Constantly Snacking.

Are you suddenly binge eating? Do you have a bigger appetite than you before? Changes in your consumption can also be a big sign that you are not getting enough sleep.

Your appetite changes quite a bit based on your emotional state and whether you are getting adequate rest at night.

Studies have found that a short night’s slumber affects hormonal balance. The hormone levels that boost appetite rise (ghrelin), the one that reduces appetite drops (leptin). That’s a bad combination!

This hormonal imbalance makes you feel hungrier than usual. You start to crave refined carbs, and sugar, and other unhealthy food selections.

The hunger and increased cravings might disappear if you improve your quality of rest.

3. You Can’t Make Decisions.

If you suffer from sleeplessness, your blood circulation will decrease in the area of your brain which processes the decisions. That will significantly affect decision-making, planning, and concentration, that is, productivity.

Maybe you notice that you can’t focus for long periods anymore, or your concentration fails quite a bit. You might be less productive at work and are suffering as a result of it.

The first thing to do when you have these issues is to figure out if something has changed recently.

Start with whether or not you are getting quality snooze. If you aren’t sure how your rest is because it seems like you are sleeping just fine, consider these other signs of insomnia as well.

4. Your Memory is Failing.

You could also be experiencing lower memory function as a result of too little sleep.

When you go to slumber, you go through multiple phases, with the fifth phase being REM sleep. The later phases, including stages 3 and 4, are when you enter deep sleep.

All of these are important for brain function, but especially that crucial deep phase. This is when your brain can hold onto memories from the day before and use them for long-term memory storage.

If you never get a deep dream, you might start noticing significant holes in your long-term memory.

5. Sexual Desires Have Decreased.

When tired, the only thing you want to do in bed is often sleeping. Habitual sleeplessness may significantly affect your overall health and reduce sexual expenditure.

Studies have shown that lack of sleep can lower testosterone levels in men, which in turn lowers sexual desire.

The Bottom Line

These are signs that indicate if you got enough sleep. It may be a good idea to follow your rest to see if there is a trend. For example, monitoring your eating and drinking before bedtime (especially caffeine) can determine if the diet is key.

There are several ways you can try to improve your sleeping habits. But if you feel the need, you may want to consider a healthcare professional’s visit.

Read more: Shift work and sleep (tips for improving sleep quality).