When it comes to setting healthy resolutions for the New Year, sleep is just as essential as nutrition and exercise, experts agree.

A lack of sleep can put you at a greater risk for obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, poor mental health and even early death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Also, a sleep deficit can adversely impact mood, productivity and focus throughout the day.

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Below are nine of the most noteworthy sleep findings that Fox News Digital has covered over the past 12 months. 

Each of these findings can bring you better sleep in the year ahead. 

A study published in the journal Sleep Health found that people who slept for at least one hour longer on weekends had lower rates of cardiovascular disease compared to those who didn’t get catch-up sleep.

The biggest benefit was seen in those who got less than six hours of sleep on weekdays and slept for at least two extra hours on weekends.

Although this was an observational study, Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, said he believes the finding is valid.

"More sleep brings your metabolism down to a lower level where the risks are lower," he said.

Most people tend to focus on the number of hours of shuteye they get each evening, but experts say that might not be the most important metric.

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In November, Harvard researchers presented study findings that showed sleep regularity — drifting off and waking up at around the same time each day — could be even more important than quantity.

"When we disrupt our circadian rhythm by going to bed and waking up at different times each day, we can experience a number of negative health consequences, including insomnia, daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating and increased risk of chronic diseases," one of the researchers told Fox News Digital. 

Using a wearable tracking device can help people get a healthy duration and quality of sleep — but when they fixate too much on that data, it can lead to a disorder called orthosomnia.

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The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine coined the term to describe patients who are "preoccupied or concerned with improving or perfecting their wearable sleep data."

People who become obsessive or anxious about sleep tracking should take a break from tracking and/or consult with a sleep specialist, experts say.

A majority of people (78% of respondents) found that a lack of sleep is negatively affecting their mental health, according to a fall report from Calm, the maker of the sleep and meditation app.

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"Sleep deprivation affects your psychological state and mental health," Dr. Raj Dasgupta, chief medical adviser at Sleepopolis in California, told Fox News Digital. 

"And those with mental health problems are more likely to have insomnia or other sleep disorders."

People who have sleep difficulties that impact their mental health — or vice versa — should consult with a specialist, experts say.

Six in 10 Americans said their sleep routines feel different during the winter than in other seasons, according to a survey commissioned by Mattress Firm and conducted by OnePoll between Sept. 26 and Sept. 29.

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A quarter of people said it is most difficult to wake up during the winter and 21% said the season makes them feel more tired.

"One of the best things you can do for your body is to get active during the day and give it a relaxing environment for sleep," said Dr. Jade Wu, sleep adviser at Mattress Firm in North Carolina, as reported by SWNS. 

It may be tempting to look at your phone or clock when sleep is interrupted, but according to experts, that could make it more difficult to drift back off.

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"Checking the time can increase stress and make it harder to sleep," Dr. Biquan Luo, a San Francisco sleep expert, told Fox News Digital.

"Additionally, if you check the time on your phone, the contents of the phone may be too stimulating, which further prevents you from relaxing and falling asleep."

Instead, Luo recommended trying such techniques as progressive relaxation, breathing exercises, white noise machines and other methods to help you relax. 

If that doesn’t work within 10 or 15 minutes, she said it’s best to get out of bed and engage in a quiet, low-stimulation activity.

Your choice of mattress can make or break the quality of your sleep, experts agreed. 

Sleeping on a hard mattress can increase the chances of getting poor sleep by 78%, according to data from Sleep Doctor.

6 SIGNS YOUR MATTRESS MIGHT BE DISRUPTING YOUR SLEEP, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS

Some common signs that you might need a new mattress include difficulty falling asleep, aches and pains in the morning, allergy symptoms or visible signs of wear.

When choosing a new mattress, your sleep position, body type and personal preferences for feel and materials should all come into play, according to Dr. Shelby Harris, director of sleep health for the website Sleepopolis and a licensed clinical psychologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

External light can be a major sleep disruptor, warned Harris.

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"If your bedroom windows allow external light, such as streetlights, into your room, it's important to have curtains or blinds to block out this light and avoid sleep disruptions," she told Fox News Digital.

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Other offenders include the blue light that is emitted from cell phones, computers and tablets.

Instead, experts recommend using orange or sunset-colored lights ahead of bedtime and keeping lights dim.

A method used by the U.S. military during World War II could help people fall asleep in less than five minutes, some claim.

The "military sleep technique" involves relaxing every muscle in the body, starting with the face and working your way down, while taking slow, deep breaths.

WWII-ERA MILITARY SLEEP METHOD COULD HELP INSOMNIACS NOD OFF QUICKLY, SOME CLAIM: 'PEACE AND CALM'

"Muscle relaxation going down the body, along with a focus on deep breathing, can be an effective way to both increase relaxation and reduce thinking," Dr. Alex Dimitriu, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California, told Fox News Digital.

"It works even better with the final steps, which focus on increasing visualization and clearing the mind of thought."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

People across the globe celebrated the turn of the new year Sunday night and into Monday morning as they watched the ball drop and kissed loved ones under confetti that showered onto city streets marking the start of 2024.

In New York City's Times Square, Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" was heard from speakers by thousands of people after the colorful ball dropped at midnight.

"It's beautiful," Corin Christian of Charlotte, North Carolina, said.

Many people arrived Sunday morning for a spot in one of the barricaded pens set up by the New York City Police Department ahead of musical performances by Bebe Rexha, Sabrina Carpenter, Ludacris, Megan Thee Stallion, LL Cool J and other performers before the final countdown to midnight.

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"This is my first time to celebrate the New Year in Times Square," Nadja Sjostrom, of Stockholm, Sweden, said. Sjostrom arrived in New York a few days earlier for the celebration and had been standing in Times Square since about 8 a.m.

Antonio Ruz flew from Granada, Spain, to achieve his lifelong dream of ringing in the new year in Times Square. He joined the crowds to enter the barricaded area at about 8.15 a.m. for what he described as a "once in a lifetime" moment.

"Since I was a kid, I saw on TV this is a spectacular show, so I had to live it," he said.

Thousands of police officers worked to keep New York City safe during the festivities. There is typically an increased police presence in cities on New Year's Eve, but the heightened security this year also came as pro-Palestinian protesters in New York attempted to disrupt celebrations and call for a ceasefire in the ongoing war in the Middle East between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists.

Roughly 90,000 officers were deployed around France, including along Champs-Elysees Avenue, where large crowds observed a multidimensional light show projected onto the Arc de Triomphe showcasing the history of Paris and sporting events slated in the city for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

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Fireworks displays were showcased at iconic locations, including the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, and at the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

In China, celebrations were relatively quiet as most major cities banned fireworks over safety and pollution concerns. But people still gathered and performers danced in colorful costumes in Beijing and a crowd released balloons in Chongqing.

Revelers in Taiwan's capital of Taipei gathered for a fireworks show at the bamboo-shaped Taipei 101 skyscraper and at concerts and other events across the city.

India saw thousands of revelers from the financial hub of Mumbai watching the sun set over the Arabian Sea.

People across Japan gathered at temples, including the Tsukiji Temple in Tokyo, where visitors stood in line to strike a massive bell.

About 2 million people celebrated at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach under light rain to watch fireworks and ring in 2024.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.