Poor sleep makes us miserable
Bottom Line: And literally those around us too. An interesting study conducted out of Berkeley provided insight into what happens to us when we’re sleep deprived. We’re all well aware that we’re not the best versions of ourselves when we’re tired but as it turns out – we might almost be the opposite of ourselves. Think about how you feel when you’re really tired. Do you want to deal with other people? Are you quick to dismiss or become angry with other people? It’s not just you. As it turns out, it’s human nature.
Sure, some people are simply better people than others. I’ll refer you to my sliding scale of morality for additional info if you’re looking for it. That means that at your worst you might not be violent or hurt others. It still doesn’t mean you want to interact constructively withthemhowever. Here’s what researchers just discovered.
Taking a group of students, the research subjects, and splitting them up into the well-rested and the sleep deprived group (the sleep deprived group were kept up all night), theystudied brain activity when run through a series of social experiments. Using simulations, when students who were rested were approached by strangers, commonly a social response and corresponding brain activity kicked in. Using the same approach those who were sleep deprived commonly felt uncomfortable and viewed the stranger as potentially invading their personal space. Essentially the opposite.
Now these are extremes. If you’re tired you still probably got some sleep but here’s the point. We now have evidence that your body’s chemical reaction to a set circumstance is vastly altered and potentially the opposite of what it would be based on how rested you are at any given time. If you think about the rise in anger, depression and many other negative attributes in today’s society, at a time when we’re sleeping less than ever, do you think it’s a coincidence? This much is clear. If you want to be a better person, sleep. Science suggests it works.