Ever wonder why some days feel like a breeze while others leave us exhausted?
It may come as a surprise to know that the secret to happier, healthier, and more successful days might just be hiding under our covers. Sleep is the simplest connection between happiness and us!
It’s not just about getting by with minimal rest; it’s about recognizing the transformative impact of quality sleep on every aspect of our lives. Prioritizing sleep isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity to unlock your full potential.
Quality sleep acts like a magic eraser for negative emotions, leaving us with a sunny disposition and a skip in our step. It would be safe to say, sleep is a mood regulator, keeping us positive.
In addition to this, disruptive sleep schedules also cause weight gain despite our best efforts. When we are sleep deprived, leptin, the ‘fullness’ hormone, decreases, and ghrelin, the ‘hunger’ hormone, increases, disrupting appetite regulation. Adequate sleep is essential not only for rest but also for maintaining a healthy relationship with food and body weight, ultimately impacting our mind and body.
Numerous studies have reported that low sleep quality or duration negatively affects self-evaluated happiness, well-being, and life satisfaction (Shin and Kim, 2018; Zhao et al., 2019; Otsuka et al., 2020; Kouros et al., 2022; Kukade et al., 2022).
A good night’s sleep is like hitting the refresh button for our body, boosting our immune system, revving up our metabolism, and giving us the energy to tackle our day head-on. By prioritizing sleep, we’re not just investing in a better today – we’re setting ourselves up for a happier, healthier tomorrow.
Sleeping isn’t just downtime; it’s prime time for our brain to recharge, making us sharper, and more creative. That’s a thank you from our brain for giving it the rest it deserves.
It’s like gifting ourselves a dose of good health, one night at a time. It’s not just about counting sheep; it’s about building bridges. It automatically amps up empathy and sensitivity.
It’s simple: if we don’t sleep well, we are highly unlikely to function properly.
While on the subject of happiness, did you know there is a World Happiness Index? It rates countries based on how happy people feel, taking into account things like how well the government works and how satisfied the public is. The happiest countries in the world are praised for having good leadership and strong social support systems, showing how important these factors are for everyone’s happiness.
To conclude on a happy note, this is why sleep and happiness are the ultimate dynamic duo. When you go to sleep tonight, remember: you’re not just getting good sleep, you’re setting yourself up for a life filled with more smiles, more success, and a whole lot of happiness.
If your interest is piqued, here are some references to read up more on the subject.
Walker, M. (2017). Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. Simon & Schuster.
Pilcher, J. J., & Huffcutt, A. I. (1996). Effects of sleep deprivation on performance: A meta-analysis. Sleep: Journal of Sleep Research & Sleep Medicine, 19(4), 318-326.
W. Chris Winter, MD (2019). The sleep solution; Why your sleep is broken and how to fix it
