The importance of sleep for good physical health is well known—Lack of sleep can lead to forgetfulness, distraction, and an increased risk of illnesses such as Alzheimer's, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.

What you may not be aware of when you choose to sacrifice sleep in favor of work or play is that your rest deficit could be impacting your relationships. Sleep and emotions go hand in hand, the impact of too little rest on your feelings can negatively impact relationships with your family and significant other (and your work relationships as well).

Here is a look at the importance of sleep in family and relationships, and why good sleep is essential to good interactions with others.

Sleep makes emotional regulation possible

Being able to handle the stresses that come with everyday life is important in cultivating healthy relationships. From being patient with a child's behavior to splitting household duties to navigating the unexpected challenges that life presents, emotional regulation is key.

If you find yourself snapping at your partner or feeling irritated with a coworker after getting poor sleep, you are not alone.

Lack of sleep stresses the amygdala, a part of the brain that contributes to emotional regulation. As a result, the amygdala may fail to produce the right amount of neurotransmitters to help you feel calm and happy.

The result? You may feel irritable or angry. Or you may find that your mental health begins to suffer. You may experience anxiety or depression. You may overreact to small annoyances in your life. Or, you may struggle to understand what your partner is thinking and feeling and fail to provide them with the support they need in the relationship. Over time, those struggles can erode relationships.

The solution? Deep, restorative rest that gives your mind time to recover from the day.

Sleep keeps us healthy and active

Sleep is essential to physical health. A lack of sleep can lead to a depressed immune system, and more illnesses, as well as a greater likelihood of chronic illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes.

Being sick can harm more than your physical health. It can hurt your relationships, too. When you are sick, you are more likely to spend time resting and less time pursuing your daily activities. Conversations with your partner, fun activities, dates, and more can all fall by the wayside when you don't feel good.

Even if you aren't sick, sleep deprivation can make you tired and lethargic and less willing to engage fully with your work, family, or romantic relationships. Not sleeping enough? You may also find yourself skipping your routine exercises and living a more sedentary, and less healthy, life.

Good sleep is critical to creating the healthy, energetic life you want to live. And, the healthier and more energetic you are, the easier it will be for you to be fully present in the relationships you value the most.

Sleep maintains our focus and productivity

If you have ever struggled to focus on your work, or watched your productivity slip after a night of poor sleep, you know the importance of sleep to focus and productivity. Studies have shown that a lack of sleep results in a lack of alertness and in slower thought processes. Conversely, waking well-rested can help us think more clearly and work more efficiently.

An alert, productive life can be good for our relationships. At work, being able to get more done with our day can be good for our professional growth. Being alert can help us engage in more meaningful conversations with our partners. And being attentive can help us to take better care of our children. A productive day always begins with a restorative night of sleep.

Sleep is essential to living a good life and having good relationships. At Dorelan, we believe that you should Sleep Well, Live Better on icons of Italian luxury and craftsmanship. That is why we make our Made in Italy mattresses available here in the United States—So you can enjoy all the relationship-building effects of deep, quality sleep.