The National Sleep Foundation conducts yearly studies on the importance of sleep in our lives. In 2015, they focused on how pain is related to your nightly rest. In the study, researchers found that healthiness is directly related to how well people are sleeping. In fact, those with “excellent or quality health” were typically sleeping for half an hour more than their “fair or poor health” counterparts. While 30 minutes might not seem like much to write home about, in this context, it was the difference between 6 hours and 55 minutes and 7 hours and 25 minutes of sleep. As many know, 7-9 hours is the optimal amount for healthy living, and these unhealthy people were missing out on it. And it’s not just about how much you are getting. Researchers also found that merely making an effort has a positive effect on your health and your sleep cycle. It turns out, those committed to getting a better night’s rest slept for 36 more minutes than those apathetic about their particular bed times. Even those experiencing chronic pain were able to stay sleeping longer when they were driven to do so. If you aren’t getting a good night’s rest, this stress-inducing study probably isn’t help. Lying awake at night is not aided by further data emphasizing the importance of the thing you aren’t getting enough of. But as the study shows, even making a small effort to fall asleep faster will, in turn, help you do so. Plus, with sleeping apps and white noise machines, a good night’s rest should be easier than ever. Photo: Flickr / Kristina Kuncevich
