Is there such a thing as Beauty Sleep?
Seriously – does the amount of sleep we get affect our attractiveness?
As we've discussed before – attractiveness has a direct affect on earning power and influence.
So would getting a solid night's sleep help us by extension do better financially and improve relationships?
Is there any evidence that supports the idea that the more sleep you get, the better you're going to look?
So the question is – Does Sleep Affect Attractiveness?
The short answer is Yes, it does.
Both a 2010 British Medical Journal study and a 2013 Swedish study featured in the Journal “Sleep” conclusively found:
A Solid night's sleep, for both men and women, resulted in a measurable increase in attractiveness when compared with people who were sleep deprived.
Now we aren't talking about crazy amounts of sleep like 24 hours solid.
For most people a good night's rest of about 8 hours is sufficient. The studies both used photographs to determine whether you look better with more or less sleep.
In the Swedish study they actually had people not sleep for 31 hours (In the English study they didn't deprive them of sleep nearly as long).
But what is important is that two independent studies came to the same conclusion.
That getting a good night's rest will help you look better.…..which as we've discussed in other article and videos is important to a man's earning power and ability to build personal relationships.
What Happens When You Don't Sleep Enough?
In the studies we mentioned, the researchers took pictures of a gentleman and showed his photos to random subjects.
One picture would show the subject after having a good night's sleep and in the other he was up to 31 hours sleep deprived.
Again and again, the people looking at the images indicated say the photo of the man who had more sleep looked healthier and more alert.
The issue most people pointed out was “bags” under the eyes. The darker coloring very noticeable after a poor night's sleep.
Also important was the overall appearance of alertness and vitality.
But why do we want to be more attractive?
Shouldn't in an interview we be measured by performance, not looks?
The cold reality is the more attractive you are, the more likely someone is going to like you during a first encounter.
If they look at you and you look like you're sleep deprived, they may not find you as attractive and therefore subconsciously be less likely to like you.
So this leads to the next section – how to get better sleep.
5 Tips to Sleeping Better At Night
1. No Phones Near Your Bed
I know, you love to sleep with your phone.
Laying in bed, checking your email or surfing the web.
However, those little alarms that go off at 2AM or someone calling you accidentally at midnight all spoil what would otherwise be a great night's sleep.
Get rid of the smart phone (in the bedroom!) and purchase a dedicated alarm clock.
When I do use my phone I turn off all notifications and silence the ring – it's not perfect but I am rarely disturbed.
2. Exercise in the Morning
Exercise in the morning, not late in the evening.
Why?
Early morning exercise allows you to take advantage of all the benefits of increased blood-flow and body function throughout the day – not at the tail end of it.
Also by getting it done first thing – you are more likely to actually do it consistently vs later in the day you more likely to get caught up in the events of life.
However something is better than nothing, and if you do exercise in the evening make sure it's at least 3 hours before you go to bed.
3. Limit your caffeine intake
Make sure you limit your caffeine intake, especially 6 hours before going to sleep.
For me I've set the rule that I don't drink coffee past noon. Past that I know it's going to be harder to sleep.
4. Own a quality mattress and sheets
You want a bed that is comfortable – spend the extra money on a mattress that allows you to sleep comfortably through the night. I personally prefer memory foam mattresses and although I spent more on my current bed than I ever thought I would – 8 years later and 2,500 nights of good sleep have more than paid for it!
Also don't skimp on the sheets. In one of my other videos I discuss the benefits of quality sheets and give my review of Vero Linens. I use their linens and I've really enjoyed how luxurious they've made my bed.
5. Create a Sleep Routine
Have a bedtime.
Yeah – who knew that mom was right!
Have a time you normally go to sleep and that you wake up.
By having that set routine, you're more likely to normally go to sleep and wake up and have restful sleep.
Beauty Sleep:
Experimental study on the perceived health and attractiveness of sleep deprived people
The study we mentioned above was published in British Medical Journal in 2010. It was designed to test the common notion of “beauty sleep” – that is, the idea that getting a good night's sleep can improve a person's appearance.
The researchers were interested in examining whether there were visible cues that could be used to identify a sleep-deprived person, and if these cues had any effects on perceptions of attractiveness or health.
The study found that sleep-deprived people were perceived as less healthy, less attractive, and more tired compared with when they were not sleep-deprived.
The researchers concluded that humans are sensitive to sleep-related facial cues, suggesting that one function of sleep may be to ensure that we appear healthy and attractive to others, which may have social or even survival implications.
The research suggests that the common admonition to get a good night's sleep before an important event may be well founded.
Sleep appears to affect not only how we feel physically and mentally, but also how we are perceived by others.
Click below to watch the video – How Sleep Affects a Man's Attractiveness | 5 Tips to Get Better Sleep
