REASON 07 OF 10

Grateful people sleep better.

End the day on a thankful thought and you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly.

What the researchers did

Alex Wood and his colleagues surveyed 401 adults, about 40% of whom had clinically poor sleep. They measured how grateful each person tended to be, how well and how long they slept, and what went through their minds as they lay in bed.

What they found

More grateful people slept better and longer, and fell asleep faster. The link ran through their bedtime thoughts: grateful people had more positive thoughts and fewer worries as they drifted off. The pattern held even after taking personality into account. The study shows a link rather than proof of cause, but it points to a simple habit.

What it means on G-Day

On the night of 10 October, before you sleep, think back to the ten faces you thanked and the moments you shared. It is a gentle way to end the day, and perhaps the start of a good habit.