Planning to have a good day? Then be sure to get plenty of sleep.
A recent survey conducted by researchers from Gallup and Healthways, a health group dedicated to promote national well being through information, found that people who got more sleep posted a higher overall well-being than those who got less.
The survey of 7,000 American adults found that those who got eight hours of sleep a night scored an average of 65.7 out of 100 compared to the 64.2 score of people who slept for seven hours and 59.4 of those who got six hours of sleep.
The scores were measured against to respondents' sense of purpose, relationships, financial lives, community involvement, and physical health.
However, the narrow scope of the survey meant the researchers were not able to conclude if more sleep increases well being or whether it is people who have better well being who tend to get more rest.
The study also revealed that 42 per cent of those surveyed were not getting the seven hours of sleep recommended by the National Sleep Foundation for adults.
Getting enough sleep, the study found, may be affected by work hours, family obligations, and health conditions like insomnia or other illnesses.
Gallup and Healthways also suggested employers implement more flexible working hours to help workers balance their work and home life.
This was not the first study to link sleep to well being as the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2013 found a lack of sleep affected irritability, moodiness, poor memory and concentration. It also indicated that people who do not get enough sleep are at risk of depression and high blood pressure. Another earlier study released by Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, also found correlations between well being and good sleep.
