This Is Probably Why You Can't Fall Asleep At Night

Falling asleep at night can sometimes feel like an impossible feat. Whether you're staring up at the ceiling thinking of that embarrassing thing you did five years ago or that tedious to-do list you have waiting for you in the morning, stress definitely does not bode well for getting some rest. "Just the thought of not sleeping can make anyone anxious!" licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Jodi J. De Luca told Health Digest. "The anxiety associated with prolonged periods of not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep can launch a vicious cycle of psychological and physical problems."

Falling asleep can, at times, feel ridiculously impossible. It is completely frustrating when you're fall-on-your-face exhausted, and yet somehow still find yourself staring at the walls, negotiating with the clock, and counting a seemingly endless flock of sheep.

There's nothing quite like sleeping an extra hour under the covers on a lazy Sunday morning. But if you find yourself regularly cutting your sleep short the rest of the week, even that extra 60 minutes can't save you from the damage you're causing to your body. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults aim for between seven to nine hours of sleep nightly.

When most people hear the words sleep deprivation, they probably think of something out of a spy movie. Days and days without any sleep at all. And while that is one form of sleep deprivation, it turns out that even one night without proper sleep has nasty effects on your brain. Most people know that sleep issues and depression go hand in hand. But the effects run much deeper than that.

While we try to find time for work, family, friends, exercise, and our favorite hobbies, we can easily get so busy that we miss out on another crucial aspect of life: sleep. And yet one source of comfort during the busiest of seasons is sleep.