If you suffer from depression, don’t sleep in until noon. Why? Waking when the rooster crows can make you feel better. Well, maybe not actually at dawn, but the earlier, the better, experts say.
It’s all about getting that shuteye, and at the right time. A study done at the University of Colorado at Boulder zeroed in on sleep and how it affects our mood. It looked at the mental health of 32,000 nurses. (Nurses are prime candidates for suffering from burn out as they often work in stressful environments and sometimes for long periods of time, at strange hours in the day).
It was found that, in general, middle-aged and older women who go to bed and rise early are significantly less likely to develop depression, compared with those who stay up late and wake late, or simply don’t get enough sleep.
Related: Which Sleeping Position is Best for a Good Night’s Sleep?
Why? It could be because sleep is an integral ingredient needed to allow your brain and body the time they need to refresh and restore themselves.
Unfortunately, however, few of us are getting enough of it. Up to 40% of Americans currently get fewer than 7 hours of sleep per night, which is about an hour less than our ancestors were getting. (You’re supposed to get between 7 and 9 hours, each night).
Feeling a little less than sharp? Tuck in early and use your time in bed as a mini vacation. You may find you feel that much better the next day.
