Sleep and Happiness
Sleep is crucial to our well-being and health. There is a huge amount of evidence that supports the recommendation that adults should typically get 8 hours of sleep per night. Recent research done by the University of Chicago found that sleep improves memory retention and learning new tasks. There was another study by Smaldone et al. from 2007 that examined the effects of sleep on well-being. There were 68,418 participants, children and adolescents included, that completed journal entries and questionnaires. It was found that inadequate sleep was associated with family issues, school troubles, physical problems, and depressive symptoms.
The findings are sad due to our increasingly fast-paced society and high-pressure school environments that create a challenge for us to enough sleep each day. There was a study done in 1960 by the American Cancer Society, 1 million participants were involved, that concluded that the median amount of sleep at that time was 8 hours. As of 2008 the number has decreased to only 6.7 hours a night.
Obesity and diabetes has been associated with sleep deprivation. Multiple studies on sleep deprivation in healthy young adults indicate that it is associated with up to a 40 % impairment in memory, thinking speed, reaction time, and cognitive ability. Sleep deprivation has also been associated with mood instability and may to lead to over-reactions and impairment of judgement.
As I close up this 3-Part Blog on happiness, we find that there is a great amount of evidence showing that exercise, good nutrition, and sleep are associated with our improved mental well-being and, in most cases, reduced depression and anxiety There is still some controversy as to whether these three factors actually cause improved mental well-being or are that those with a greater mental well-being are simply more likely to exercise, sleep well, and maintain a balanced diet. The answer in my personal opinion, from my personal experience, is that exercise, good nutrition, and sleep IMPROVE our mental well-being.
When I started my journey, I was in a place I had never been before. I was depressed, lost, consistently suffering from severe anxiety. My nutrition was terrible, I did NOT exercise, and my sleep was about 3 to 4 hours a night. It took everything I had to make the changes I did, but since doing so, I’m happier, less to no anxiety, no more depressive symptoms, and I feel like I can take on any challenge in my path.
In fact, the end of 2015 I let myself go and I stopped exercising, my eating was horrid, and my sleep was lacking again. As of January 4th, 2016 I pushed myself to get back to my routine. Again, I was feeling depressed, angry, my anxiety made a comeback, and I hated looking at myself. Since starting my journey again. I feel amazing. I have drive, motivation, no more depressive symptoms, and my anxiety is on its way out, AGAIN! So, why not join me on this journey of your happiness and mental well-being? I would love to work with you to help you get yourself to where you WANT to be.