A New Study from Baylor University Reveals How Small Changes in Sleep Duration Can Lead to Significant Improvements in Health and Personality.
According to Medical Xpress, 90 young adults were selected for the study and randomly assigned to either a late sleep group, an early sleep group, or a normal sleep group during the workweek to explore how their sleep timing and duration affected their mental health.
Getting a few extra minutes of sleep can surprisingly improve your next day – (Illustration by AI: THU ANH).
The results were completely unexpected: just by extending their sleep duration by about 46 minutes each day—regardless of whether that amount truly met their sleep needs—remarkable changes occurred.
Not only was there a significant increase in mental recovery, but the emotional well-being of these individuals also improved.
They expressed more gratitude, life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose, according to Associate Professor Michael K. Scullin, a co-author of the study.
In contrast, volunteers who experienced a reduction of 37 minutes of sleep per day showed a decline in mental recovery and their mood worsened. Their social perspectives also became more negative.
In an article published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, the authors noted that previous studies often focused on the negative effects of sleep deprivation.
While it’s well-known that getting enough sleep is beneficial, not everyone manages to do so.
This study shifts the focus by emphasizing the aspect of improving mental health, considering the positive implications of adding a small amount of sleep rather than solely addressing the limitations of adverse outcomes.
According to Professor Scullin, the findings also indicate that attempting to increase sleep duration not only helps you feel more alert but also leads to a significantly better day, thanks to a mental readiness to face challenges and a more positive outlook on life.
