Physician explains how poor or low-quality sleep hinders common resolutions

Jan 20 2017

Making New Year's resolutions is easy. Keeping them — beyond a couple of weeks, at least — is tough.

One big factor that affects whether the commitment sticks: sleep.

It's a key component many people neglect when striving to make improvements in just about any part of their lives.

"We definitely take sleep as a luxury; it's not," says Cathy Goldstein, M.D., a sleep physician at Michigan Medicine and an assistant professor of neurology in the Sleep Disorders Centers at the University of Michigan.

Whether intentional or a result of external factors, shortchanging on shut-eye influences a host of bodily functions crucial for good health.

Some individuals, Goldstein notes, aren't aware they're lacking in sleep — or they knowingly sacrifice it to accommodate work or leisure demands. As a result, "they become used to this poor level of performance."

She explained how poor or low-quality sleep hinders some common resolutions:

"I want to eat healthier": The pitfalls of eating junk food are twofold when sleep is in short supply. Night owls are more likely to snack in the evening (either by raiding the pantry or hitting a drive-thru) and those who eat during the nighttime tend to weigh more.

Whether you are a night owl or not, people who aren't getting enough sleep also are apt to make poor meal choices during the day. Sleep restriction decreases one's levels of leptin (the hormone that makes you feel full) and boosts ghrelin, which collectively increase appetite and alter food choices in a negative way. "It really changes the profile of what you eat to high carbohydrate, salty, sugary snacks," Goldstein says.

"I want to exercise more": Who feels like hitting the gym when they're exhausted? Beyond a lack of mental motivation, the physical payoffs of exercise are reduced when your sleep routine is out of whack.

Researchers have found adequate sleep improves speed, strength and endurance in athletes. A 2013 Northwestern University study found the connection benefits everyone: "The less sleep you get, the shorter your exercise duration the next day is going to be," says Goldstein.

"I want to get a promotion": Good employees are alert, motivated and cheerful. Those qualities, Goldstein says, "all are impaired by sleep loss." They also spur what she dubs "cyber loafing" — that is, mindlessly scrolling social media or entertainment sites while on the clock.

The risks aren't relevant only to those seeking to climb the corporate ladder. A well-rested boss is probably a better worker, too. Notes Goldstein: "There is some research saying sleep-deprived people in managerial roles are less ethical and not as nice."

"I want to improve my relationship": Working through any interpersonal issues can be a challenge on its own, but fatigue hinders the healing process. "A person's mood is going to be worse when they don't sleep," Goldstein says.

Those with obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder in which breathing is interrupted during the night, often "have a really short fuse; they're much quicker to anger," Goldstein says. "But once we get their sleep quality improved, their social interactions are markedly improved."

"I want to quit smoking": Sleep deprivation is tied to higher rates of nicotine dependence, Goldstein says. Researchers aren't exactly sure why, but she suspects much of it relates to nicotine's "activating" properties to help users relax or concentrate, among other things.

What she and other experts do know: Low sleep reserves affect your ability to make good decisions. That includes whether to use harmful tobacco products, even if you're aware of their detrimental effects.

Set the scene for sleep
To reach your resolutions — and optimal health year-round — try these tips.

Strive for seven to eight hours of nightly sleep — and not just on weekends.

Try to go to bed at the same time each evening, even on weekends. Otherwise, "you're basically putting your body through jet lag on Sunday night," Goldstein says.

Keep your bedroom as dark as possible. Install blackout blinds or curtains to block any light pollution that can suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps control your sleep and wake cycles.

Cover up any direct glow from electronics or clocks. "You're most sensitive to bright light in the middle of the night," Goldstein says. "Even low levels can have a negative effect."

Don't use your smartphone or tablet while in bed. Set the phone to "do not disturb" mode to avoid sleep interruptions from late-night calls or texts.