Surprising new research from European psychologists suggests that our mindset and belief in our own willpower might hold the key to navigating the challenges of a sleep-deprived day and maintaining productivity, offering a fresh perspective on how we can cope when a good night’s rest eludes us.
Sleeplessness can ruin your day ahead, especially if you have to go to work. Nervousness, fatigue, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating and memorizing: the consequences of a bad night can have a real impact on your health, especially if it’s a recurring phenomenon.
A team of European psychologists investigated how it was possible to feel better after insomnia, and their results are surprising.
A matter of willpower
Published in October 2021 in the journal Human Relations, their study was conducted on 214 employees. Over 1,317 workdays, the psychologists tracked their sleep quality, mood, and work engagement.
To carry out their work, they relied on the role of willpower (defined here as the ability to control impulses, emotions, and desires) during work performance, observing the willpower of the study participants.
Unsurprisingly, they found that poor sleep negatively affected employees’ emotions and demotivated them, thereby impairing their ability to stay focused on their tasks. In contrast, those who showed good willpower fared better.
Compared to employees who reported having a limited reserve of concentration and willpower, those who were more confident in their ability to resist distractions and stay focused, even after insomnia, were less likely to experience cognitive difficulties.
Don’t feel guilty about sleeping poorly
“Believing that your willpower is unlimited helps you maintain your effectiveness at work, especially on days of sleep deprivation,” explains Wladislaw Rivkin, lead author of the study, in a press release. Beyond this effectiveness, he and his team noted that employees who believed in their willpower were in a better mood after a sleepless night.
Of course, positive thoughts alone cannot compensate for the disadvantages of sleep deprivation, which can have long-term consequences for your health. Going to bed at regular times and adopting a healthy nighttime routine can help you get more restful sleep.
However, if your sleep is disturbed for any reason, this study suggests that a simple change of mindset can help you perform better. Try not to feel guilty and think that all hope of having a good day is lost, and remember that you can stay focused if you truly believe you can.
