Leeza Gibbons: 'Without Sleep, You Unravel' (VIDEO) | HuffPost Life

'Without Sleep, You Unravel'

Author and TV personality Leeza Gibbons recently joined Caitlyn on HuffPost Live to discuss a topic near and dear to our hearts: sleep.

Gibbons explained that it wasn't until the last few years that she began prioritizing her shut-eye. "I used to believe I could sleep when I'm dead," she says in the clip above, but has since realized the danger of that mindset.

"Sleep is to be valued and to be prioritized," she says, and provides us with the nourishment we need to be able to live our lives to the fullest. "Without sleep, you unravel."

Watch the clip above for more.

Support HuffPost

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

9 Perks Of A Good Night's Sleep

You'll Look Prettier(01 of10)

Sleeping beauty had this one right: regular shuteye alone actually makes you look prettier, according to a 2010 study published in the British Medical Journal.The researchers took photos of 23 people after a normal night's sleep of eight hours and after a period of sleep deprivation. Then, a group of 65 people rated each set of photos for perceived health, attractiveness and tiredness. The sleep deprived group scored lower in all three categories."We propose that sleep is a cheap and effective beauty treatment, both acutely and in the long-term," John Axelsson, lead researcher on the study, told NBC News. "Sleep should be seen as the body's natural beauty treatment and a clear alternative or complement to other beauty treatments."Sleep can also actually help to keep your skin in top condition. Over the long term, sleep deprivation can cause increased stress-related aging, a decreased ability to stay hydrated and a decreased ability to fight off environmental pollutants, writes Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D. on DoctorOz.com."The most important thing you can do for your skin may be getting a great night's sleep," dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad told the Los Angeles Times. (credit:Alamy)

You'll Eat Less(02 of10)

Both experts and scientific data have long connected lack of sleep with increased hunger and weight gain -- and now a recent study has quantified the phenomenon. The findings, presented last month at an American Heart Association meeting, suggest that otherwise healthy people may eat more than 500 additional calories a day when they're sleep deprived, the Huffington Post reported when the study first came out. (credit:Alamy)

You'll Make Better Decisions(03 of10)

Stumped? You may want to sleep on it.A study published last year in the Journal of Sleep Research found that people make smarter calls after a good night's sleep. The researchers asked 54 young adults to play a card game aimed to imitate casino gambling. Those who were well-rested made decisions that resulted in greater winnings four times more often than those who were sleep deprived -- and they had a firmer grasp on the rules."This provides support for what Mom and Dad have always advised," lead author and psychologist Rebecca Spencer, of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said in a statement. "There is something to be gained from taking a night to sleep on it when you're facing an important decision. We found that the fact that you slept makes your decisions better." (credit:Alamy)

You Can Ease Bad Memories(04 of10)

If you're sorting through a painful memory, try giving it a rest.One small study last year found that sleep might help to take the edge off difficult emotional experiences that happen during your waking hours."The dream stage of sleep, based on its unique neurochemical composition, provides us with a form of overnight therapy, a soothing balm that removes the sharp edges from the prior day's emotional experiences," senior author Matthew Walker, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at UC Berkeley said in a statement.But remember we're talking a solid eight-hours of shuteye -- too much sleep may be a sign of depression. (credit:Alamy)

You Could Learn Better(05 of10)

You may be conditioned to think that the best way to learn is to stay up all night cramming, but the truth is that you'd be better off to get some sleep.Several studies have linked rest with increased performance on learning-related tasks, and now a new study has found that the timing of sleep may matter, too. The researchers asked more than 200 people to memorize related words (such as "fire and smoke") and unrelated words (think: "insect and truth"). When later tested for recall, those who slept just after learning performed better than those who went a whole day before sleeping. (credit:Alamy)

You Can Be More Organized(06 of10)

Ever notice how you can read the same paragraph over and over again when you're tired, without ever really retaining anything? That same phenomenon can result in your home or work-space becoming cluttered, explains Robert Oexman, D.C., director of the Sleep to Live Institute in Joplin, Mo. When humans are sleepy, they can lack the focus and drive to stay on task long enough to keep things orderly."Sleep-deprived people can't focus very well," he told The Huffington Post. "A lot of things are cluttered in their lives and they find themselves less organized." (credit:Alamy)

You'll Have A Better Sex Life(07 of10)

It's the oldest excuse in the book: "Honey, I'm too tired." And while there's certainly some truth to being too exhausted to have sex, Oexman believes there's something deeper at work here. Chronic sleep deprivation can take a mental toll that affects how people perceive their own attractiveness and, in turn, sexual desire."They don't just not feel like it," Oexman says. "They really don't feel like it. They don't feel good about themselves." (credit:Alamy)

You'll Exercise Better(08 of10)

Too wiped to hit the gym after work? The culprit may actually be your sleep habits, not the stress of your job. "Work should not wear you out," Oexman says -- you may be mentally exhausted, but, if you're working a desk job, you shouldn't be physically exhausted, as well. So if you feel like you just can't do it, consider upping your hours of shuteye each night.Added bonus: sleep can actually be a boon to your athletic ability. One study published last year found a correlation between increased sleep and improved performance in elite college basketball players. "Intuitively many players and coaches know that rest and sleep are important, but it is often the first to be sacrificed," study author Cheri Mah said in a statement. "Healthy and adequate sleep hasn't had the same focus as other areas of training for peak performance."Some research also suggests that regular rest can aid with muscle memory, Oexman says, which helps you learn how to do all kinds of new tasks, like perfecting your golf swing. (credit:Alamy)

You'll Be Easier To Get Along With(09 of10)

We all know a bad night's sleep can make us grumpy. And over time, that can take a real toll on your personality."People who don't sleep well tend to over-escalate a problem," Oexman says. In fact, one study even found that sleep deprived people could be more likely to blame other people and plan revenge against them. "Sleepier people seem to engage in counterfactual thinking that is more dissatisfied and perhaps more selfish," study author David Mastin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, said in a statement. "It may be that the sleepier you are, the more likely your musings are to be angry thoughts about how others could have done better."So if you can't stop thinking how everyone else is to blame, you might want to pause to consider how many hours you've been clocking in bed each night. (credit:Alamy)

Your Immunity Will Be Boosted(10 of10)

It's pretty much common sense that if you're rundown or exhausted, you'll be more susceptible to picking up a bad cold. But a recent study helped to explain that link further. As The Huffington Post reported when the findings were released:

Researchers found that the body's circadian clock controls an essential immune system gene in mice -- a gene that helps the body ward off bacteria and viruses. "People intuitively know that when their sleep patterns are disturbed, they are more likely to get sick," study author Erol Fikrig, professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine, said in a press release. "It does appear that disruptions of the circadian clock influence our susceptibility to pathogens."

(credit:Alamy)

Related

healthy living HuffPost Live third metric Video Sleep

Suggest a correction

|

From Our Partner

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

These Are HuffPost Readers’ All-Time Favorite Walking Shoes For Men And Women

The Best Durable Shoes, According To Zookeepers Who Work In Mud All Day

The Most Comfortable Sandals For Walking All Day, According To Tour Guides Who Live In Them

My Holy Grail Skin-Perfecting Cream Is On Rare Sale Right Now

This $4 Cat Toy Is 'Worth Its Weight In Gold' — And Behaviorists Say There's A Reason

MORE IN LIFE

Life

This Box Office Bomb Is The Top Movie On Hulu Right Now

Food & Drink

Don’t Miss The 10 Best Instagram Recipes From April

Parenting

40 Too-Real Tweets About Children Playing Musical Instruments

Food & Drink

5 Delicious Reasons You Shouldn’t Miss Out On Salvadoran Food

Parenting

I Hit the Jackpot With The Tradwife Lifestyle Until it All Came Crashing Down

Life

A Shockingly Low Percentage Of People Tip Rideshare Drivers — Here’s The Awful Truth

Shopping

These Shoe Inserts Promise Heavy-Duty Support — And They're 30% Off

Shopping

These Noise-Canceling Headphones Are Highly Coveted — And They're $100 Off Right Now

Life

31 Tweets That Will Make Sense To Anyone Who Is A Taurus

Shopping

The Best Shoe Brands For Kids, According To Podiatrists

Shopping

19 Hidden Gems On Amazon That Reviewers Have Called ‘Effective’

Shopping

Just 14 Items Under $20 We Loved This Month, In Case You Need A Little Treat

Shopping

46 Products To Subtly But Genuinely Elevate Your Life

Shopping

13 Comfy Shorts That Will Save Your Thighs From The Dreaded Summer Chafing

Relationships

The Funniest Marriage Tweets To Get You Through This Week

Life

This Shocking True Crime Series Is A Top Show On Netflix Right Now

Shopping

Brita's Popular Filtering Water Bottle Is Just $14 Right Now

Shopping

This $4 Cat Toy Is 'Worth Its Weight In Gold' — And Behaviorists Say There's A Reason

Shopping

My Holy Grail Skin-Perfecting Cream Is On Rare Sale Right Now

Shopping

19 Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts From Amazon That Will Arrive On Time

Shopping

9 Stylish Swim Trunks, According To The Best-Dressed Guys We Know

Shopping

27 Products From Amazon’s 'Internet Famous' Section That Are Actually Worth The Hype

Travel

If Detroit Isn't On Your Travel Bucket List, It's Time To Reconsider

Parenting

Are You Raising A Member Of The 'Anxious Generation'? Here's How To Protect Your Kid's Happiness.

Home & Living

Hate Going To The Dry Cleaner? Here's When You Can Cheat — And When You Shouldn't

Life

Forget 10,000 Steps A Day — This Is The Number You Should Focus On Instead

Relationships

5 Signs You're Dealing With Unresolved Grief

Shopping

8 Extremely Popular Emotional Support Water Bottles To Keep You Hydrated

Shopping

34 Pieces So Cute That People Might Get A Bit Obsessed With You

Shopping

11 Of Amazon's Bestselling Kitchen Tools For Under $30

Style & Beauty

Massage Therapists Reveal What They Think When You Fall Asleep, Pass Gas Or Worse

Food & Drink

8 Popular Cooking Tools That Chefs Say Are A Waste Of Money

Shopping

If You’re In Your 30s, Here Are 32 Comfy But Elevated Pieces You Might Fall In Love With

Parenting

Want A Better Relationship With Your Adult Children? Do These 6 Things

Shopping

35 Things To Improve The Appearance Of Your Kitchen Without A Renovation

Shopping

8 Genius Laundry Products To Make Wash Day Less Dreadful

Shopping

This Is The Bedding That Amazon Shoppers Are Obsessed With

Shopping

These 11 Hardworking Beauty Products Are Some Of Amazon's Bestsellers Right Now

Food & Drink

Eliminating These 3 Foods From Your Diet Can Be A Game-Changer For Heart Health

Style & Beauty

Yes, Your Lips Age, Too. Makeup Artists Reveal The Tricks To Wearing Lipstick After 50