“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.”
– Irish Proverb
Why did the insomniac go to the mattress store?
Because he was tired of counting sheep and wanted to meet some springy new friends!
“The night was shrouded in an eerie silence as I sat there watching YouTube while my children enjoyed their movie night. The moon, veiled behind a thick layer of clouds, cast an otherworldly glow over the desolate landscape. I pondered whether to sleep or not to sleep. Despite extensive research into writing the Sleep Chapter in my new book and drawing from the wisdom of Matthew Walker (Why We Sleep), I ignored my bedtime routine, despite the voice in my head stating, ‘Practice what you preach.’
I woke up this morning not feeling particularly great due to my sleep debt and couldn’t remember most of my long passwords. I dialogued with myself “am I losing my mind”. Thanks to my Social Media Engagement officer who came to help me. Thank God for coffee!
I am a creature of habit, right? But what did I learn, and what would I do differently?
Sleep is crucial for decision-making as it plays a vital role in various cognitive functions. Here are a few reasons why sleep is important for decision-making:
- Restoring Cognitive Resources: Sleep allows the brain to restore and replenish cognitive resources. Throughout the day, our cognitive abilities, such as attention, working memory, and problem-solving, become depleted. During sleep, the brain undergoes processes that help restore these cognitive resources, enhancing decision-making abilities.
- Memory Consolidation: Sleep plays a crucial role in consolidating and organizing memories. When we sleep, the brain processes and stores information gathered during the day, including the experiences and knowledge necessary for effective decision-making. This consolidation of memories during sleep helps integrate new information with existing knowledge, aiding in making informed decisions.
- Enhancing Mental Clarity and Focus: Lack of sleep can lead to mental fatigue, decreased alertness, and impaired cognitive function. When you are sleep-deprived, your decision-making abilities can be compromised. Adequate sleep ensures mental clarity, sharp focus, and the ability to think critically, leading to better decision-making.
- Emotion Regulation: Sufficient sleep is essential for emotional regulation, which has a significant impact on decision-making. Sleep deprivation can negatively affect emotional stability, increase impulsivity, and reduce the ability to regulate emotions effectively. Emotional regulation is crucial for making rational decisions rather than being driven solely by immediate emotions.
- Creativity and Insight: Sleep has been linked to enhanced creativity and insight, which can positively influence decision-making. During sleep, the brain engages in neural processes that promote creative thinking, problem-solving, and connecting unrelated ideas. These insights gained during sleep can lead to more innovative and effective decision-making strategies.
In summary, sleep provides the necessary restoration and consolidation of cognitive resources, promotes memory integration, enhances mental clarity and focus, aids in emotion regulation, and boosts creativity. All of these factors contribute to better decision-making abilities. It is essential to prioritize good sleep habits to optimize your cognitive functioning and improve your decision-making skills.
How long do we need to sleep? Do we need less than 7 hours of sleep?
Should we prioritise sleep?
Share with me your sleep debt experience?
“Wondering, What Am I Missing? Unraveling the Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Your Well-being”
Thanks for sharing!