Can Extra Sleep Make You Happier? Scientists Say Yes!
Scientists have found that getting just 46 extra minutes of sleep each night can make you feel happier, more energetic, and much more grateful!
Have you ever felt grumpy when waking up early for school? On 4 November 2024, researchers in Waco, Texas, in the United States, shared exciting news about the great benefits of extra sleep. They revealed that adding just 46 more minutes of rest to your night can significantly boost your daily happiness.
Instead of only studying how staying awake late harms our health, the scientists used positive psychology to see how resting well builds good character. Their wonderful discovery shows that a short trip to dreamland can help anyone become a more cheerful, thankful, and caring person.
What happened?
The investigation was led by student researcher Alexander Do for his Honors thesis at Baylor University. He was guided by two top psychology professors: Dr Michael K. Scullin, director of the Baylor Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory, and Dr Sarah Schnitker, head of the Science of Virtues Lab. Their work was published in The Journal of Positive Psychology.
To run the experiment, the team tracked 90 healthy adult volunteers over a full workweek. Every participant wore a special wristband actigraphy monitor to record their exact hours of rest. The volunteers were divided into three groups to test different bedtime routines.
One group followed an early bedtime to lengthen their sleep, while another followed a late bedtime to restrict their sleep. A third group kept their usual bedtime schedule as a control group so the team could compare the results fairly.
The findings were truly amazing! The early bedtime group added an average of 46 minutes of sleep each night, while the late bedtime group lost an average of 37 minutes. The well-rested volunteers showed marked improvements in their daily energy, optimism, emotional resilience, and overall satisfaction with life.
At the end of the week, everyone completed a written gratitude exercise. The group that enjoyed the 46 extra minutes wrote twice as much on their gratitude lists as those in the other groups! In contrast, volunteers who lost sleep suffered sharp drops in resilience and gratitude, along with bad moods and daytime sleepiness. Better-rested individuals also showed stronger prosocial behaviours, making them much more eager to help others.
Why does it matter to you?
Life as a school student in India can get very busy with sports, homework, exams, and family events. When you feel tired, handling a difficult lesson or sorting out a small argument with a friend can feel overwhelming.
This study proves that going to bed about 45 minutes earlier helps your brain recharge properly. When you are well-rested, you develop emotional strength to bounce back whenever you face tough challenges.
Getting that extra shut-eye also makes you a more thoughtful friend and classmate. You will find it much easier to notice the good things around you and share kindness with everyone in your community.
Words to know
- Actigraphy monitor: a small wrist device that measures movement to record when someone is sleeping or awake.
- Resilience: the ability to recover quickly and stay strong when facing difficulties.
- Gratitude: a warm feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for the good things in life.
- Prosocial behaviour: actions that are intended to help, share with, or support other people.
Did you know?
In this study, people who got just 46 extra minutes of sleep wrote twice as many items on their gratitude lists compared to those who had less rest!
Think about it
What is one evening habit you could change tonight so you can fall asleep 45 minutes earlier? How do you think getting extra sleep might help you be a kinder friend tomorrow?
Quick quiz
How many extra minutes of sleep did participants gain on average in the sleep extension group?
- 37 minutes
- 46 minutes
- 90 minutes
See the answer
46 minutes
Sources
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
