Sleep and Rest
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6 Health Benefits Of Taking Time To Do Nothing
by Henry Ford Health Staff 23/12/22 Henry Ford Health
Periods of doing nothing shouldn’t be confused with laziness or lack of drive. Instead, Dr. MacLean advises recognizing the mental health benefits of daydreaming, which include:
Aiding problem-solving: Breaks improve your ability to think logically, problem solve and make decisions.
Boosting creativity: When you allow your mind to wander, you’re more likely to think of an innovative idea. After all, Sir Isaac Newton’s theory about gravity was inspired after he observed an apple falling while just walking in an orchard.
Improving learning: Have you ever felt overwhelmed after listening to a long lecture or reading for hours? Taking a break gives your brain time to process, consolidate and store the information you’ve learned.
Increasing productivity: Research has found that taking breaks improves concentration and attention, making you even more efficient and productive when you return to a task.
Inspiring kindness: Taking time for reflection can inspire you to look beyond your own needs and help others. Being alone can spark a search for a larger sense of purpose. A break can prompt you to try meaningful activities that extend beyond your own life.
Uplifting mood: Everyone can feel overwhelmed by work, school and family responsibilities. But resting your mind helps you recharge and regulate your emotions. It also allows you to find pleasure in idleness and savor an experience.
The Benefits of Doing Nothing
Technology has enabled people everywhere to do more with less effort, yet most people find themselves working just as much as ever – and it could be hurting them more than they know.
Why 'doing nothing, intentionally' is good for us: The rise of the slow living movement
How does the idea of doing nothing for a year sound? No work, no emails, no career progression, no striving or achieving or being productive. For many of us, such a thought might once have brought its own anxiety attack – surely, work is status, earning money is achievement, and being busy is a brag? But these days, a year of nothing is more likely to sound dreamy, even aspirational – there has been, as they say, a vibe shift.
Doing Absolutely Nothing Has Mental Health Benefits
by Francine Toder Ph.D. 23/7/22 Psychology Today
As a professional woman, I’d been striving all of my life. Back in the day, accomplishing my goals required herculean effort—or sneaking in a back door entrance.
The Actual Health Benefits Of Doing 'Nothing'
by Unknown 19/2/20 Intermountain Health
In today’s world, we’re accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We gladly take the time to charge our phone’s battery, but disregard recharging our own. The second boredom strikes, we pick up our phones and scroll through social media or turn on the TV and start binge-watching a show we’ve already seen. Doing nothing has become a thing of the past, which means people are experiencing burnout at record-breaking speeds.
Do Less. It’s Good for You
by Jamie Ducharme 10/6/24 TIME
You take a vacation day, but get distracted by the thought of your work inbox filling up. Or you sit down to watch a movie and immediately feel guilty about all the tasks still on your to-do list. Or perhaps you splurge on a massage, but barely enjoy it because your thoughts are racing the entire time.
The benefits of doing nothing
If you’re like most people, you can’t remember a time when you weren’t doing at least two things. We listen to books or podcasts while commuting to work. We watch TV or look at our phones while we eat. We’re working, and on the phone, and probably trying to figure out how to cram a third activity into that moment.
Taking it slow
by Matthew Solan 1/11/22 Harvard Health Publishing
"Slow living isn't about doing less, but doing more with greater focus and purpose and at the right speed," says Laura Malloy, director of the Successful Aging Program at Harvard-affiliated Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine. "It's about enjoying the moments and putting more energy and enjoyment into fewer things."
The Latest Social Media Trend May Help Ease Anxiety, Therapist Says. Here's How to Do It
by Amelia Gioia 21/11/25 TODAY
Niro Feliciano, a psychotherapist specializing in anxiety and author of the new book "All is Calmish," says the challenge is great for practicing being still — which has many health benefits.
The Brilliant Benefits of Doing NOTHING
I shot the video below seven summers ago. The message it shares is as true now as it was then: once in awhile, we all need to embrace doing nothing. And now more than ever, people are beginning to recognize the benefits of doing nothing for stress, creativity, and overall well-being. It’s particularly enjoyable during the lazy, hazy days of summer. As I visit in-laws in Scotland, and bike pack 340 km over the Highlands, on The Badger Divide, I won’t exactly be doing nothing, but since I am on holidays, I figured it’s a great time to reboot this classic.
How (and why) you should embrace the "art of doing nothing"
by Calm's Editorial Team 14/8 Calm
Burned out from always being “on”? It's time to embrace the "art of doing nothing." Learn the surprising science behind the concept, and 9 ways to practice it yourself.
The Importance of Doing Nothing (for at least 20 minutes each day)
by Bing Crosby, Cedric Hardwicke, and William Bendix 10/2/24 Forest Healing
Once upon a time in a quaint little village nestled between rolling hills and babbling brooks, there lived a wise village elder named Master Serene. He was known far and wide for his calm demeanour, his wisdom and his insightful teachings. One day, the villagers gathered around Master Serene, seeking guidance on how to find peace and balance in their hectic lives.
Rest day guilt: a women’s health expert explains the benefits of doing ‘nothing‘
These things may feel relaxing, but they are not forms of rest. And the truth is many of us struggle with doing absolutely nothing, like sitting on a patch of grass in the sun or spending an evening lying on the sofa watching Netflix. Even if you love doing these things at the time, the guilt over not being productive, active or stimulated eventually creeps in.
When Rest Isn’t Lazy: The Mental Health Benefits of Doing Nothing
There’s a strange kind of guilt that creeps in when we stop moving. It shows up on slow afternoons, when the to-do list is long but your energy is gone. It whispers, "You’re wasting time." or "You should be doing something." In a world that glorifies hustle and productivity, rest can feel like failure. But what if rest isn’t laziness? What if, instead, it’s one of the most powerful things we can give ourselves?
Doing Nothing With Your Favorite People Is Really, Really Good for You
When I think back on my best memories with my favorite people, the most mundane things come to mind: yapping around my grandma’s kitchen table for hours after eating; rehashing a night out, piled on a couch with college friends; making dinner in my New York City apartment while chitchatting with my roommate and neighbor.
Give it a Rest: The Health Benefits of Doing Nothing
Maintaining a healthy balance between activity and inactivity is important, and to do that, taking breaks throughout the day is essential. With busyness comes stress, and too much stress can lock your body into a constant “go-mode.” Being constantly stressed for extended periods can end up being harmful to you in the long run.
The Case for Doing Nothing: Why Embracing Downtime is Essential for Mental Health
In a world that often equates busyness with success, the concept of “doing nothing” may sound counterproductive, even indulgent. Yet, the value of downtime is gaining renewed attention for its significant mental health benefits. The constant hustle, the endless to-do lists, and the pressure to be productive can make us feel accomplished, but they can also lead to burnout, fatigue, and a lack of fulfillment. Giving ourselves permission to do nothing isn’t a waste of time; it's a mental health tool that helps us recharge and find balance in a fast-paced world.
The Mental Health Benefits of Doing Absolutely Nothing.
Rest is often mistaken for laziness, but it is actually a radical act of self-preservation. How many times have you thought, "You're wasting time," while sitting still, scrolling aimlessly, or lying on your bed staring at the ceiling? We live in a culture that shames rest, glorifies hustle, and treats constant busyness as a badge of honour. Productivity is too often equated with personal worth, and even boredom is seen as something to fix immediately with screens or stimulation. In this kind of environment, choosing to rest becomes a powerful way to protect your well-being. And here’s the truth we’re slowly remembering: doing absolutely nothing can be one of the most restorative things you do for your mental health.
How Meditation Benefits Your Mind and Body
While meditation is well known as a technique to reduce stress and anxiety, it may also help enhance your mood, promote healthy sleep patterns, and boost cognitive skills.
Press Pause: The Health Benefits of Doing Nothing
by Erlanger Marketing 17/4/23 HealthyU
Maybe you aren’t ferrying the kids to and from school or extracurricular activities. Maybe your “commute” to work right now only takes you from the bedroom to the living room. It’s true — our lives are far from the norm right now.
Mindfulness for Your Health
Paying attention to what’s going on right this second can be hard. We often spend more time thinking about what’s coming up in the future. Or dwelling on things in the past we can’t change. We can miss out on experiencing the present.
Why Doing “Nothing” Is Doing Something Good for Yourself
by Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Robyne Hanley-Dafoe 3/2/25 Psychology Today
It’s easy to get caught up in all the “doing” of life and leave little time for simply “being.” Yet, the reality is that we need those pauses: We need to rest, recover, and allow ourselves to be unproductive without guilt. It’s time to permit ourselves to do “nothing” more often.
The Legit Mental Health Benefits of Doing Nothing, According to Science
[https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/legit-mental-health-benefits-doing-111418368.html by Karla Walsh 4/8/22 Yahoo Life
When we cover the latest wellness news here at EatingWell, we often share little actionable nuggets to hopefully inspire you to make tomorrow a tiny bit healthier than today. Recently, we've dished about the big wellness gains you can score from everything from little healthy habits like drinking another glass of green tea, adding a spoonful of cocoa powder to your oatmeal and eating another serving or two of colorful foods like peaches and peas.
Five reasons why we should all learn how to do nothing
by Oliver Burkeman 9/1/15 The Guardian
The idea that “doing nothing” is a skill to be learned might seem bewildering at first. Surely it’s just a question of stopping doing anything else? Yet that’s far easier said than done. It’s long been recognised – by everyone from the Buddha to John Keats – that “doing” can be a kind of compulsion, an addiction we only fail to acknowledge as such because society praises us for it.
The Benefits of Doing Nothing
More and more of us find ourselves unable to juggle overwhelming demands and maintain a seemingly unsustainable pace. Paradoxically, the best way to get more done may be to spend more time doing less,” reports the New York Times. “A new and growing body of multidisciplinary research shows that strategic renewal — including daytime workouts, short afternoon naps, longer sleep hours, more time away from the office and longer, more frequent vacations — boosts productivity, job performance and, of course, health
The Art of Doing Nothing: Unlocking the Benefits of a “Do Nothing Day”
I used to get caught up in the hustle-and-grind culture we live in. I never took time to relax or recharge, and as a result, I felt burnt out and overwhelmed. That’s when a friend suggested that I try a “do nothing day.” At first, I was skeptical. How could doing nothing be beneficial? But as I researched the concept and read about the benefits, I decided to give it a try.
Taking Breaks Is Good for Your Brain — Here’s Why
by Emily Boynton 18/4/22 UW Medicine
“Many people don’t often have a choice in how much rest is available to them. The way society is set up, we treat rest as a privilege, not a right,” says Julia Kocian, a licensed clinical social worker and UW Medicine Graduate Medical Education mental health counselor.
Why Doing Nothing Might Be the Solution to (Some) of Your Problems
by Marlena Angermann 28/3/22 UTOPIA
The idea of doing nothing may seem like a radical approach, especially in today’s rise-and-grind culture — but truly doing nothing is important. With the infinite options in restaurants, hobbies, jobs, vacations, TV shows and more, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by choice. We are constantly making decisions and processing information, which in turn exhausts our brains. Now more than ever, we must remind ourselves to rest because it’s important for your brain to get downtime. This can help boost productivity, concentration, creativity, and overall health and happiness.
The Benefits of Doing Nothing
In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of doing nothing often carries a negative connotation, being unfairly associated with laziness or inefficiency. However, embracing periods of inactivity can actually lead to numerous mental and physical health benefits. This article explores the advantages of allowing oneself to take breaks and simply do nothing.
Why Time Off Is So Good for Your Health
by Quinn Phillips 4/10/23 EVERYDAY HEALTH
A study found that a record 768 million vacation days went unused in 2018, with 55 percent of workers reporting they didn’t take all the paid time off their job offered. (The study was sponsored by the U.S. Travel Association, a national nonprofit organization.)
Do something good for yourself — nothing
by Lisa Selin Davis 21/10/21 CNN
The chance to slow down and experience a smaller, sparer life was for some a welcome reprieve from the overscheduled, harried and often overwhelmed version of the Before Times.
The Surprising Benefits of Doing Nothing
by Yasmin Rodriguez 6/7/24 Medium
In a world that glorifies busyness and productivity, the idea of doing nothing seems almost sacrilegious. We are constantly encouraged to fill our time with activities, achievements, and goals. But what if I told you that doing nothing could be one of the most beneficial things you could do for your well-being? Here’s how embracing the art of doing nothing has transformed my life, and why you might want to give it a try.
About Sleep
Quality sleep means you are getting uninterrupted and refreshing sleep. Getting quality sleep is not just about how many hours you sleep, but how well you sleep.
Health Benefits of Sleep
by Jay Vera Summer 22/7/25 SLEEP DOCTOR
Like eating well, staying hydrated, and exercising regularly, getting enough quality sleep is essential for your overall health. Researchers are still uncovering exactly why we sleep, but one thing’s clear: A full night’s rest delivers a wide range of mental and physical health benefits.
Better sleep: Why it’s important for your health and tips to sleep soundly
Sleep has become a precious commodity – we love it and need it, but rarely get enough of it. Busy schedules, kids, anxiety and technology can all get in the way of a good night sleep.
Why Sleep Matters: Benefits of Sleep
It may seem obvious that sleep is beneficial. Even without fully grasping what sleep does for us, we know that going without sleep for too long makes us feel terrible, and that getting a good night's sleep can make us feel ready to take on the world. Scientists have gone to great lengths to fully understand sleep's benefits. In studies of humans and other animals, they have discovered that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions.
Get Enough Sleep
If you often have trouble sleeping — or if you often still feel tired after sleeping — talk with your doctor.
Sleep is essential to health: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement
Sleep is a biological necessity, and insufficient sleep and untreated sleep disorders are detrimental for health, well-being, and public safety. Healthy People 2030 includes several sleep-related objectives with the goal to improve health, productivity, well-being, quality of life, and safety by helping people get enough sleep. In addition to adequate sleep duration, healthy sleep requires good quality, appropriate timing, regularity, and the absence of sleep disorders.
Sleep Matters for Your Mental Health
“A good night’s sleep is the foundation for mental health and well-being,” says Kelcey Stratton, chief behavioral health strategist in UHR. “Sleep is important for memory, concentration, and attention. Sleep also helps us process emotions and respond more effectively to stress.”
Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep
Sleep is an important part of your daily routine—you spend about one-third of your time doing it. Quality sleep—and getting enough of it at the right times—is as essential to survival as food and water. Without sleep, you can’t form or maintain the pathways in your brain that let you learn and create new memories. Lack of sleep makes it harder to concentrate and respond quickly.
The Benefits of Getting a Full Night's Sleep
Sleep. We all wish we had more of it. Yet it’s still. So. Elusive. And while yawning and feeling tired all the time can be a bummer, a lack of zzz’s can actually have a big impact on your health. Experts say you should aim to get between seven and eight hours of shut-eye each night, but what does that really do for you?
10 Health Benefits of Sleep
by Mark Stibich 9/8/25 verywellhealth
Sleep is vital for maintaining your overall health. With the recommended seven to nine hours of rest for most adults, you can help to manage your weight, boost memory, limit stress, and reduce the risk of serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes.
How to fall asleep faster and sleep better
The mental health benefits of good sleep include boosting our mood, reducing stress and helping with anxiety.
Why Sleep is Important for Teens?
Sleep is important for teens because it is how our bodies repair themselves! Sleeping can help us prevent infections, rebuild our muscles and can even help our brains work better so that we can focus, prevent mood problems and helps our bodies function better.
Health Benefits of Good Sleep
Sleep is an essential component of good health, and it plays a vital role in injury recovery. When we sleep, our bodies are able to repair and regenerate damaged cells and tissues, which can help to reduce inflammation and swelling. Adequate amounts can also boost the immune system and improve overall physical and mental well-being.
Surprising Reasons to Get More Sleep
by Rachel Reiff Ellis 13/8/25 WebMD
A lack of sleep at night can make you cranky the next day. And over time, skimping on sleep can mess up more than just your morning mood. Studies show getting quality sleep on a regular basis can help improve all sorts of issues, from your blood sugar to your workouts.
Getting Good Sleep Could Add Years to Your Life
by AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY 23/2/23
WASHINGTON (Feb 23, 2023) - Getting good sleep can play a role in supporting your heart and overall health—and maybe even how long you live—according to new research being presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session Together With the World Congress of Cardiology. The study found that young people who have more beneficial sleep habits are incrementally less likely to die early. Moreover, the data suggest that about 8% of deaths from any cause could be attributed to poor sleep patterns.
Sleep: Benefits and recommended amounts for children
Sleep is a very important part of your child’s mental and physical health because it allows your child’s mind and body to rest and recover. There are many things you can do to help your child or teen get good quality sleep as often as possible.
Good Sleep for Good Health
Sometimes, the pace of modern life barely gives you time to stop and rest. It can make getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis seem like a dream.
Sleep Your Way to a Smarter Brain
During sleep, your brain deals with information received during the day. It consolidates memories and clears plaque-forming amyloids and tau proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The Many Benefits of Sleep
by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HEALTH SPARROW 14/11/23
The end of daylight-saving time earlier this month signaled the start of shorter, darker, often colder days. This may trigger symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which is a condition in which people experience many symptoms often seen in depression but during times of shorter daylight.
7 Health Benefits to Getting a Good Night's Rest
Getting better sleep doesn’t just improve your morning mood; surprisingly, it boosts your health, too. In fact, good sleep is one of the pillars of good health, along with eating right and exercising regularly. It’s true you can’t achieve optimal health without catching your Zzz’s each and every night.
Getting better sleep doesn’t just improve your morning mood
byDr. Michael Ruscio, DC, DNM YouTube
surprisingly, it boosts your health, too. In fact, good sleep is one of the pillars of good health, along with eating right and exercising regularly. It’s true you can’t achieve optimal health without catching your Zzz’s each and every night. In this episode, I’ll cover the root causes of reflux & share the most effective treatments. Tune in!
Sleep
"Why can't I sleep?" has become a common complaint among Americans. An estimated one-third of adults sleep six hours or less a night, which can have serious health consequences. Inadequate sleep (generally defined as less that seven hours a night for most adults) increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Poor sleep is also associated with sluggish reaction time, memory lapses, and a higher risk of headaches, stomach issues, and sore joints.
The Health Benefits Of Getting Enough Sleep
Sleep is either your best friend or an eternal curse. You either get enough sleep or you go around sleep-deprived. In the hustle-oriented world of today, it’s di cult to get enough sleep as many people forget to sleep in favor of working hard and being productive. ‘Hustling’ and making every second of every day count has become the prerogative and it is not healthy. People forget that sleep is important and there are several bene1ts to it. The bene1ts of a good night’s sleep are long term, having lasting effects on you throughout life.
In general, adults need 7 or more hours of good quality sleep every night. Adequate sleep should make you feel well-rested after you wake up.
Sleep and Health
Children and adolescents who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk for many health problems. Examples include obesity, type 2 diabetes, poor mental health, and injuries. These children are also more likely to have attention and behavior problems, which can lead to poor academic performance in school.
Exercising for Better Sleep
Working out is great for your body and mind – and it can also help you get a good night’s sleep. But, for some people, exercising too late in the day can interfere with how well they rest at night.
Health Benefits of Sleep
Good sleep is necessary for a healthy lifestyle. However, sometimes work and busy schedules do not let is get enough of this amazing natural remedy.Over thinking can also give us restless nights and insomnia. Many times the immense importance of sleep is overlooked. Amazingly, sleep has a lot of health benefits and can do a whole lot of great things to our body.
Physical Health and Sleep
by Jay Vera Summer 8/7/25 SLEEP DOCTOR
The relationship between sleep and overall physical health is complex and interconnected. Sleep allows both the body and brain to recover during the night, ensuring you feel refreshed and alert when you wake up in the morning. At the same time, your physical health and associated medical conditions can make it difficult to get the sleep you need.
The Benefits of Slumber
We have so many demands on our time—jobs, family, errands—not to mention finding some time to relax. To fit everything in, we often sacrifice sleep. But sleep affects both mental and physical health. It’s vital to your well-being.
Sleep is delicious
I love napping. I love napping in the summer, when rhythms are more relaxed and the guilt of taking a break less intense (if only slightly). But I also love napping in the winter, when it’s cold outside, and burying myself under a warm blanket makes me feel like I’m hibernating. No matter the season, when lying in bed, I luxuriate in the feeling of my body relaxing, waiting for the moment when odd images start forming somewhere in that space between my closed lids and my corneas – or, most likely, somewhere in my mind.
13 healthy sleep habits
by Dave Balachandran, M.D. 22/8/25 Anderson Cancer Center
It’s so important to pay attention to your sleep because even one night of bad sleep can leave you feeling moody and struggling with memory, thinking and focusing. Long-term sleep loss can lead to weight gain, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system. Short sleep duration and disturbed sleep are even linked to an increase in cancer cases and cancer deaths, possibly because poor sleep causes inflammation.
Busy? Why you should always put sleep first
“Sleepiness can leave you sluggish, moody, unable to concentrate or learn new things, and can even impact both short-term and long-term memory,” Malow said. “Lack of sleep for a long duration can trigger impulsive behavior, paranoia and suicidal thoughts.”
Sleep 101: Why Good Sleep Is So Important to Your Health
We all know that sleep is important, but did you know that it is just as essential to our well-being as diet and exercise? Unfortunately, with the demands of modern life, many of us often overlook the significance of getting enough rest. In this blog, we will explore the many benefits of sleep, the potential risks associated with sleep deprivation, and provide tips and techniques to help you get the quality sleep you need to be your healthiest, happiest self. So, let’s dive in and explore the wonderful world of sleep.
Get Moving to Get Better Sleep
It’s no secret that exercise has widespread health benefits. It improves your mental and physical health and keeps you focused and energized during the day. It also does wonders for the quality of your sleep by promoting restorative sleep.
Why Sleep Is Important for Brain Health
by AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION 16/3/22
The brain is complex and interconnected. The American Brain Foundation believes finding a cure for one brain disease will help find cures for others. Just as well, the association between sleep and brain health illustrates how one issue can be linked to multiple diseases.
Beyond Memory: The Benefits of Sleep
As I travel around the world talking about sleep, I am asked this question over and over. The answer has always been clear—yes, everyone needs to do it. Just like hunger, thirst and sexual desire, the urge to sleep is a physiological drive. Exactly what spending a third of our lives unconscious gets us, however, has long mystified scientists.
Benefits of napping in healthy adults: impact of nap length, time of day, age, and experience with napping
Napping is a cross-cultural phenomenon which occurs across the lifespan. People vary widely in the frequency with which they nap as well as the improvements in alertness and well-being experienced. The systematic study of daytime napping is important to understand the benefits in alertness and performance that may be accrued from napping. This review paper investigates factors that affect the benefits of napping such as duration and temporal placement of the nap.
Waking up to the importance of sleep
Is a full night's sleep an essential ingredient for a healthy mind and body, or just a luxury for the lazy? Despite extensive evidence for the former, the tendency of society (including hypercompetitive heads of laboratories) to applaud people who claim to be forever on the go leaves many assuming the latter. The notion that successful people can get by with just a few hours of sleep a night reinforces a common perception that sleep is a waste of time.
REM Sleep: What Is It Good For?
by Katherine E. Miller Science Direct
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has captivated the imagination of scientists and the public alike since its discovery in 1953, in large part because it is the behavioral state in which most dreaming occurs. Freud referred to dreams as “the royal road to the unconscious” [1] and developed one of the first comprehensive theories of how dream analysis could yield insight into the inner emotional workings of the mind.
Sleep is essential — researchers are trying to work out why
When neurobiologist Dragana Rogulja began studying sleep in her laboratory at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2013, she had no idea what her experiments would tell her about how sleep affects the body. She wasn’t assuming — as many people do — that it’s a function mainly of the brain. She was just starting her lab and decided to throw the net wide, asking the question: if animals are sleep deprived, how long will it take until they die — and when they die, what is the specific cause?
Sleep physiology, pathophysiology, and sleep hygiene
by Navya Baranwal 2023 ScienceDirect
Despite sleep's fundamental role in maintaining and improving physical and mental health, many people get less than the recommended amount of sleep or suffer from sleeping disorders. This review highlights sleep's instrumental biological functions, various sleep problems, and sleep hygiene and lifestyle interventions that can help improve sleep quality.
Sleep benefits subsequent hippocampal functioning
by Ysbrand D Van Der Werf 18/1/09 nature
Sleep before learning benefits memory encoding through unknown mechanisms. We found that even a mild sleep disruption that suppressed slow-wave activity and induced shallow sleep, but did not reduce total sleep time, was sufficient to affect subsequent successful encoding-related hippocampal activation and memory performance in healthy human subjects.
=====A systematic and meta-analytic review of the impact of sleep restriction on memory formation Author links open overlay panel===== by Rebecca Crowley 2024 ScienceDirect
Modern life causes a quarter of adults and half of teenagers to sleep for less than is recommended (Kocevska et al., 2021). Given well-documented benefits of sleep on memory, we must understand the cognitive costs of short sleep. We analysed 125 sleep restriction effect sizes from 39 reports involving 1234 participants.
Does working memory improvement benefit from sleep in older adults?
by Negin Sattari 2019 ScienceDirect
Working Memory (WM), is an important factor influencing many higher-order cognitive functions that decline with age. Repetitive training appears to increase WM, yet the mechanisms underlying this improvement are not understood. Sleep has been shown to benefit long-term memory formation and may also play a role in WM enhancement in young adults.
The importance of sleep regularity: a consensus statement of the National Sleep Foundation sleep timing and variability panel
by Tracey L. Sletten PhD 2023 ScienceDirect
To develop and present consensus findings of the National Sleep Foundation sleep timing and variability panel regarding the impact of sleep timing variability on health and performance.
The importance of sleep and physical activity on well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: reunion island as a case study
by Florian Chouchou 2021 ScienceDirect
Lockdown has been one of the major worldwide strategies to control the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Its consequences on the well-being of individuals needs to be better understood. The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of lockdown on the well-being of a general population and the factors associated with this potential impairment of well-being in a population that has been only lightly affected by COVID-19 such as in Reunion island, an overseas French department.
The energy allocation function of sleep: A unifying theory of sleep, torpor, and continuous wakefulness
by Markus H. Schmidt 2014 ScienceDirect
Sleep remains the only universal behavior known to biology with no clear consensus regarding a fundamental underlying function. The recognition of sleep behavior across multiple phyla of the animal kingdom strongly suggests the presence of a shared or universal function.
23 Incredible Benefits Of Getting More Sleep
by Kevin Loria 22/12/14 BUSINESS INSIDER
We're always on the lookout for ways to transform our lives, but sometimes we forget that — along with exercise — there's another miracle drug within our control: sleep.
Power nappers explain the benefits of sleeping on the job
by Cathy Bussewitz 6/2/25 PBS NEWS
People who make a habit of sleeping on the job comprise a secret society of sorts within the U.S. labor force. Inspired by famous power nappers Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein, today’s committed nap-takers often sneak in short rest breaks because they think the practice will improve their cognitive performance but still carries a stigma.
Sleeping on a regular schedule is key to health benefits, researcher says
MARTIN: True. OK, well, don't worry. Duke University clinical psychologist Jessica Lunsford-Avery says people do not have to worry so much about the amount of sleep they get. Instead, the focus should be on a regular sleep routine.
10 ways sleep can change your life
What if someone told you there was a magic potion by which you could prevent disease, improve your intellect, reduce your stress and be nicer to your family while you’re all cooped up together during the pandemic?
Why do we sleep?
Van Savageis a professor in ecology, evolutionary biology and computational medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also an external faculty member at the Santa Fe Institute.
Sleep myths that may be keeping you from a good night’s rest
Myth. When it comes to sleep no-nos, experts say this is a big one. Lying in bed, even with your eyes closed, for more than 15 to 20 minutes is one of the worst things you can do because it will train your brain to associate the bed with a lack of sleep. It can lead to chronic insomnia, Michael Grandner, a clinical psychologist and sleep expert, told CNN in an earlier interview.
A brief history of sleep
by Arianna Huffington 19/11/14 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
Sleep is having its moment in the sun — or, more appropriately, its moment in a darkened room, with blackout shades drawn, the temperature somewhere between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit, all smartphones and tablets banished from the room and maybe a white noise machine softly whirring in the corner.
Sleeping in a room even a little bit of light can hurt a person's health, study shows
Turn off the lights for a good night's sleep - common sense. But in our constantly illuminated world, a lot of people don't follow this advice. Researchers are trying to get a better sense of how light at night can hurt our health. NPR's Will Stone reports.
Want to have a healthy brain? Make sure you're washing it every day
by Charlotte Edmond 13/12/19 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
From technology entrepreneur Elon Musk to former Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer and business mogul Richard Branson, there is no shortage of successful people claiming to need just a few hours’ sleep each night.
Short sleep negates benefits of exercise for the brain, study says
In a new study, researchers discovered people with more frequent, higher-intensity physical activity who slept less than six hours a night on average had faster overall cognitive decline than short sleepers who exercised infrequently.
Good night's sleep 'protects heart'
According to a large study, traditional advice on exercise, diet, drinking and smoking reduced deaths from heart disease or stroke, but even more lives were saved by also having enough sleep.
Cognitive shuffling: A mental trick to help you quiet racing thoughts and fall asleep
He found inspiration in a cognitive psychology class he was taking and a professor’s theory regarding visual motion detection, Beaudoin, now a cognitive scientist, said. Visual motion detection refers to the visual system’s ability to perceive and process motion based on changing patterns of light on the retina.
Matthew Walker: Why Is It Essential To Make Time For Sleep?
by Manoush Zomorodi, Katie Monteleone 5/2/21 npr
Sleep is crucial for our health — and there are alarming consequences when we don't get enough. Matthew Walker explores the many benefits of a full night of sleep, and how to make sleep a priority.
'Arrogance' of ignoring need for sleep
by James Gallagher 12/5/14 BBC
Scientists from Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Manchester and Surrey universities warn cutting sleep is leading to "serious health problems".
Want To Get Faster, Smarter? Sleep 10 Hours
A study from researchers at Stanford University finds that extra hours of sleep at night can help improve football players' performance on drills such as the 40-yard dash and the 20-yard shuttle.
Why Hammocks Make Sleep Easier, Deeper
Neuroscientists at the University of Geneva rigged up a bed so it would sway gently from side to side every four seconds, considerably slower than the pendulum on a cuckoo clock. "This rocking is very gentle, very smooth, oscillating every four seconds," Sophie Schwartz, a professor of neurology who led the study, told Shots. "It's not like rocking like you would see some mothers rocking their babies, it's more gentle."
What a weekend snooze could do for your heart health, according to new research
Naturally, catching up on sleep over the weekend is often the solution. New research suggests doing so may even benefit your heart health, amounting to a 19% lower risk of developing heart disease, according to a research abstract published Thursday. The abstract hasn’t been published in a journal but will be presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress on Sunday, September 1.
Sleep on it? What science tells us about making decisions
by Joe Myers 6/5/16 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
The study examined people’s feelings about purchasing a new laptop bag. Half of participants were given the details at night, while the other half in the morning. Twelve hours later they had to select a new case.
Is an early night the key to better test results?
by Harriet Heywood 24/4/25 BBC
Researchers from Cambridge, and Fudan University in Shanghai, found that those who slept for the shortest time had poorer brain functions - and better sleep could benefit memory and heart rate.
Americans don't get enough sleep. Can magnesium supplements help?
Some of that interest is fueled by social media. Take, for example, the sleepy girl mocktail that went viral on TikTok. It's a mixture of magnesium powder, tart cherry juice and a prebiotic soda that you drink about a half hour before bed.
Anxiety robbing your sleep? A weighted blanket may help
The first night I started sleeping underneath a 15-pound weighted blanket, I slept straight through the night for the first time in months and felt more rested during the day. After a few days of good sleep, I learned that my sister had done her gift research — she had read that people with anxiety tended to feel more grounded when using the blankets.
Specialists say there are benefits to couples sleeping separately
by Leanne Italie 10/7/24 INDEPENDENT
Their sleep separation was due to his developing chronic and heavy snoring that eventually led to a diagnosis of sleep apnea and his use of a CPAP machine.
Colds And Quality Of Sleep Linked, Study Shows
The preliminary findings come from a study at Carnegie Mellon University, where researchers recruited about 150 healthy men and women to participate.
Why exercise helps you sleep and why sleep is good for your fitness routine
by Melanie Radzicki McManus 5/6/25 CNN
While you’re catching z’s, your body is hard at work maintaining your physical and mental health. It does so by repairing and boosting your cardiovascular and immune systems, plus regulating your metabolism. Your brain also consolidates memories and processes information from the day.
