---
title: How Sleep Impacts Your Mental Health
description: There has been an increased attention toward the importance of sleep and its essential role in cognition, health, and mental well-being.
---

[ISN Blog](https://insights.isnetworld.com/isn-blog)

# [How Sleep Impacts Your Mental Health](https://insights.isnetworld.com/isn-blog/how-sleep-impacts-your-mental-health)

 Written by [ISN Team](https://insights.isnetworld.com/isn-blog/author/isn-team) | May 18, 2022 5:00:00 AM

 18 May 2022

# How Sleep Impacts Your Mental Health

 

According to [Sleep Medicine Clinics](https://www.sleep.theclinics.com/article/S1556-407X(19)30093-1/fulltext), there has been increased attention toward the importance of sleep and its essential role in athletic performance, cognition, health, and mental well-being. Many of us can relate to the phrase "woke up on the wrong side of the bed" and as research shows, there seems to be truth behind this statement.

[Sleep Foundation](https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health) suggests that while research is ongoing to better understand the connections between mental health and sleep, the evidence to date points to a bidirectional relationship. Mental health disorders tend to make it harder to sleep well. At the same time, poor sleep, including insomnia, can be a contributing factor to the initiation and worsening of mental health problems. [Research shows](https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/sleep-and-mental-health#:~:text=Chronic%20sleep%20problems%20affect%2050,deficit%20hyperactivity%20disorder%20(ADHD).) that chronic sleep problems affect 50% to 80%  of patients in a typical psychiatric practice, compared to 10% to 18% of adults in the general U.S. population.

While quality sleep is important for our mental health, it can also impact our overall safety in the workplace. It's easy to imagine how a worker's lack of sleep or mental state might affect his or her ability to make good decisions and [recognize potential hazards](https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17489-its-not-an-easy-conversation-mental-health-in-the-workplace#:~:text=Mental%20health%20can%20affect%20worker%20safety.&text=%E2%80%9CWe've%20seen%20movements%20all,the%20conversation%20on%20mental%20health.%E2%80%9D). We can all benefit from improving our sleeping habits, and it may be as simple as incorporating some of the below tips into your daily routine.

**Tips to Improve Sleep**

1. Stick to a Schedule: Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
2. Power Down: Turn off TVs, computers, and other blue-light sources one hour before you go to bed.
3. Create a Restful Environment: Keep your room cool, dark and quiet.
4. Nix Naps: Limit naps to no more than one hour and avoid napping late in the day.
5. Eat Right at Night: Don't eat heavy foods and big meals too late. Finish eating at least an hour before bed.
6. Work Out Wisely: Regular physical activity can promote better sleep. Aim to finish any vigorous exercise 3 to 4 hours before you head to bed.
7. Manage Worries: Try to resolve your worries or concerns before bed and jot down what's on your mind and set aside for tomorrow.

**Regional Mental Health Resources**

- United States – [National Alliance on Mental Illness](https://www.nami.org/home) (NAMI)
- Canada – [Wellness Together](https://wellnesstogether.ca/en-CA)
- Australia – [R U OK?](https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask)
- New Zealand – [Mental Health Foundation](https://mentalhealth.org.nz/)
- United Kingdom – [Mind.Org](https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/)

#### [ISN Team](https://insights.isnetworld.com/author/isn/?hsLang=en)

Read [more posts](https://insights.isnetworld.com/author/isn/?hsLang=en) by this author.

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