How Much You Sleep Predicts Your Happiness, Study Suggests

Amy Taylor June 20, 2017

Want to be happier? Here’s some good news for you: You need not go somewhere else to find happiness. You just have to get 7 hours and six minutes of sleep each night, according to experts.

It has long been held that our quality of sleep greatly impacts of well-being. And now, new research shows just how much it does. The study, which involved 2,000 people, those who are ‘perfectly happy’ get exactly seven hours and six minutes of shut eye. Meanwhile, those who are ‘mostly happy’ sleep a little bit less of the former, at 7 hours.

Furthermore, people who rated themselves as somewhat happy snoozed for six hours 54 minutes while those who are ‘completely unhappy’ slept for less than 6 hours and 48 minutes.

The study also found women struggled the most to get a decent night’s sleep, and those reporting the fewest hours also said they were the least happy.

But age is a big factor. According to the survey, those who are at the age of 25 or younger get a lot of sleep regardless of happiness level.

Single people report sleeping the most, while separated people sleep the least.

Also, respondents who got the best sleep were more likely to meditate or take a shower before bedtime.

Sleep Problems and Mental Health

The price of sleepless nights is more than just fatigue. It extends to the person’s mental health. Several studies have linked lack of sleep with anxiety, stress disorder, and depression as it also raises one’s risk of obesity, heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

And while a lot of research has focused on the amount of sleep needed to maintain good health, other experts suggest that routine is just as important. For instance, a study by Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that people who go to bed at the same time every night are far more healthy and successful than those who don’t have a consistent sleeping/waking time.

People with irregular bedtime also hit snooze more often, rather than bounding out of bed, and struggled to get sleepy, due to irregular releases of melatonin – the hormone that triggers sleep.

Many people experience sleep problems. Taking measures such as establishing a regular sleep and waking time may be an effective, relatively simple way to promote sleep quality.

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The secret to happiness is getting EXACTLY seven hours and six minutes of sleep a night

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