The Importance of Sleep: How It Affects Your Life

Leonie Macpherson
Jun 19, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Dec 11, 2025

The shorter you sleep, the shorter your life.

Understanding Sleep Deprivation

Recent studies indicate that 40% of Australians suffer from inadequate sleep. Conditions like insomnia, sleep apnoea, shift worker disorder, and restless leg syndrome contribute to this issue. The negative impact on individuals and society is significant. You might think that popping a sleeping pill will solve your sleep problems, but that's not the case. Research shows that sleeping pills don’t provide natural sleep. As a result, they fail to give us the health benefits of real sleep.

One therapy that can help improve sleep and provide health benefits is massage. This blog will help you understand why sleep is so crucial.

The Risks of Inadequate Sleep

Did you know that losing an hour of sleep due to Daylight Saving Time can lead to a 24% increase in heart attacks? Conversely, gaining an hour can decrease heart attacks by 21%. These statistics are also seen in car accidents and suicide rates. Apart from these alarming facts, losing just four hours of sleep in one night can decrease our natural killer cell activity by 70%. This drop severely affects our immune system's ability to protect us. Understandably, there's a strong link between sleep deprivation and an increased risk of cancer. Consequently, the World Health Organisation has classified any form of night shift work as carcinogenic.

Sleep: A Pillar of Health

Professor Allan Pack from the Centre for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology emphasizes that sleep is a pillar of health. We need adequate sleep because it's during this time that our brains create new synapses and connections. Sleep also helps make lipids and membranes, consolidates memories, and allows the brain's clearing system to function efficiently.

Sleep deprivation can have cumulative effects, leading to negative molecular changes. These changes can result in hypertension, vascular disease, insulin resistance, and altered appetite. Furthermore, lack of sleep can impair mental function, lead to poor decision-making, and even cause road accidents.

The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Memory

A study was conducted to examine how memory is impacted by sleep deprivation. In the experiment, researchers took one group of individuals who had a full 8 hours of sleep and placed them in an MRI machine. This group was tested for their learning abilities. A second group, which was sleep deprived, underwent the same MRI test. The results were alarming. The sleep-deprived group exhibited a 40% deficit in their brain's ability to form new memories.

Circadian Rhythm and Sleep

Our genetics influence our body's internal clock for sleeping and waking. Every cell in our body has its own clock, with the brain serving as the master clock. This is why sleeping at irregular times can be challenging. Keep this in mind when traveling abroad or accepting unusual work shifts.

Accumulating Sleep Debt

Long-term sleep deprivation can accumulate into what is known as sleep debt. Unfortunately, you cannot recover missed sleep. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) can help calm the mind. Additionally, massage therapy can also soothe the nervous system. However, if you struggle to sleep consistently and cannot see a massage therapist, consider trying these simple tips to avoid accruing sleep debt:

Tips for Better Sleep

Maintain a Sleep Schedule: Go to bed and wake up around the same time each day. Regularity helps regulate your body's internal clock.
Cool Down: Your core body temperature needs to drop by 2-3 degrees Fahrenheit to initiate and maintain sleep. An optimal room temperature is 18 degrees Celsius.
Darkness and Quiet: Ensure your bedroom is dark and quiet for an optimal sleeping environment.
Limit Blue Light: Avoid using blue-light emitting devices at least an hour before bedtime.
Practice Meditation: Meditation can help calm your mind and prepare you for sleep.
Limit Caffeine: Restrict caffeine intake, especially in the afternoon.