Let’s talk about sleep—the real MVP of self-care. We all know we need it, but do we really understand why? Sure, crashing into bed at night feels amazing, but what’s happening while we sleep is where the real magic happens. And if you’re not getting enough deep sleep and REM sleep, your body and brain are missing out on some serious benefits.

So, grab your cozy blanket and let’s break it down!

Before we go into why sleep is so important, let’s talk about how I used to sleep. I started taking jellies for one reason—SLEEP. Or better yet, the complete lack of it. 😩 For years, I averaged about 5 hours a night, waking up between 1-3 AM no matter what I tried.

I went through it all:
💊 Prescriptions (left me feeling like a zombie)
🛌 OTC sleep aids (took forever to kick in and didn’t last)
😳 Even CBD from a vape shop—which sent my heart racing to 177 BPM. I was terrified and swore off CBD forever.

Deep Sleep: The Body’s Overnight Repair Crew

Imagine your body has its own personal cleaning and repair crew that only clocks in when you’re asleep. That’s deep sleep. It’s the stage where your body goes into full recovery mode, fixing up all the wear and tear from your day.

🔧 Muscles and tissues repair—so all that effort at the gym (or, let’s be real, lifting laundry baskets) actually pays off.
🦠 Immune system boost—because nobody has time to be sick.
📉 Lower heart rate & blood pressure—your heart gets a much-needed break.
💆‍♀️ Growth hormone release—hello, anti-aging and faster recovery!

Without enough deep sleep, you wake up feeling like you fought a bear in your dreams (and lost).

REM Sleep: The Brain’s Reset Button

Now, while deep sleep is all about repairing your body, REM sleep is when your brain puts in the work. This is where your mental and emotional health get a much-needed tune-up.

🧠 Memory storage & learning—so you don’t forget why you walked into the kitchen.
💡 Problem-solving & creativity boost—ever woken up with a genius idea? Thank REM sleep.
😌 Emotional regulation—aka fewer mood swings and way more patience.
⚖️ Hormone balance—which impacts everything from stress levels to metabolism.

Skip out on REM, and suddenly you’re more forgetful, foggy, and moodier than a toddler who missed nap time.

I did use 2 different sleep trackers (I had a Fitbit originally, but recently switched to an Apple Watch)…but you can still see the metrics of how the quality of my sleep shifted!

The Bottom Line: You Need Both!

Think of deep sleep and REM sleep like Batman and Robin—you need both to function at your best. Deep sleep keeps your body strong, while REM sleep keeps your brain sharp. Without them? You’re stuck feeling exhausted, stressed, and running on caffeine fumes.

So if you’ve been waking up groggy, anxious, or just off, it might be time to check in on your sleep quality. Track it, tweak your routine, and give your body what it really needs—because let’s be real, waking up actually refreshed is the ultimate flex. 😴✨

Who else is working on getting better sleep? Drop your favorite sleep hacks in the comments! ⬇️

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