Stress, especially chronic stress, can disrupt your sleep cycle and increase the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. Elevated cortisol levels can interfere with your ability to fall asleep, and if you do manage to sleep, your body may not enter the deep, restful stages that are crucial for recovery.
Sleep Debt: It’s Real, and It Adds Up
If you’ve ever tried to “catch up” on sleep after a late night, you might think you’re doing your body a favor. However, chronic sleep debt is a real thing, and it can have lasting effects on your energy levels. If you’ve been skimping on sleep for weeks or months, your body accumulates a sleep debt that doesn’t just vanish after one night of extra sleep.
