New research published in the journal Sleep Medicine has shown that longer sleep duration is associated with better mood, more motivation, and less sleepiness. Additionally, greater sleep variability is associated with poorer mood and lower motivation. Sleep is a key component of maintaining and improving heart health, and this study further emphasizes its importance for mental health.
The study included 119 healthy university students. The participants wore sleep trackers and completed twice-daily questionnaires on their mood, motivation, and sleepiness when they woke up and before bedtime for two to six weeks. Naps and nap duration for each participant were also reported daily. The goal of the study was to determine how sleep duration, timing, and regularity are related to mood, motivation, and sleepiness.
The results of the study showed that when a participant slept for longer than their average sleep duration, their mood was better upon waking, their motivation was higher, and their sleepiness was lower. These effects of longer sleep duration were still present when the participants went to bed that day, but the effects did not extend to the next day. Among all participants, more variation in sleep was associated with poorer mood and less motivation. In general, longer sleep duration was associated with lower sleepiness and less motivation at bedtime. Longer naps appeared to reduce sleepiness and improve mood.
Better sleep health is well-known to be linked to improved heart health and greater athletic performance. The authors of this study noted that this study indicates that sleep health also affects other aspects of life and “readiness,” such as one’s mood and motivation to complete work or school tasks. This study also indicates that wearing sleep trackers may be useful for better understanding your sleep health and your sleep patterns over time.
Sources: Sleep Medicine, Science Daily