The Importance of Perception in Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Introduction
Research shows that thinking about getting a good night’s sleep is more important for your mood than actually sleeping.
The Study
Researchers have found that instead of focusing so much on reaching your sleep goal, the simple feeling of having a good night’s sleep has more of an impact.
A group of scientists from the University of Warwick asked more than 100 people aged 18 to 22 to keep a daily diary of their sleep the night before.
Positive and Negative Feelings
Five times over the next day, they were asked to rate their positive and negative feelings and how satisfied they were with their lives.
The researchers compared the graph data with the participants’ perception of their sleep and how they felt the next day.
The Surprising Results
The results, published in the journal Emotion, showed that those who simply felt they slept well were in a better mood the next day, even if their sleep quality was really poor.
Lead author Dr. Anita Lennis said: “While a sleep tracker may tell you that you didn’t sleep well last night, your perception of sleep quality can be very positive. And if you think you slept well, it can help improve your mood the next day.”
Perceived Health and Well-being
The team said their findings were in line with previous studies that showed that people’s self-reported health, rather than their actual health status, was the main factor associated with their life satisfaction and well-being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the perception of having a good night’s sleep plays a significant role in determining one’s mood and overall well-being. It is important to prioritize the feeling of sleep quality rather than solely focusing on reaching sleep goals.
