Is Your Bank Account What’s Keeping You From A Good Rest?

Money Never Sleeps: If you worry about money, chances are you’re losing sleep over it. New research from Rice University has found financial woes increase stress at bedtime and can lead to sleep problems that impact work performance during the day.

The Study: With funding from the Department of Defense, researchers collected data from full-time National Guard service members. The participants self-reported their financial stress, bedtime stress behaviors, and sleep quality. Sleep data was also gathered from actigraph devices worn on their wrists. 

The Takeaway: Those who had more money concerns had more stress before bed, which resulted in more insomnia, lower sleep satisfaction, and impaired attention, mood, and memory. The findings were the same across different economic tiers. Even participants who were in better financial shape still had insomnia or disrupted sleep if they worried about money at bedtime. 

Keep In Mind: We don’t always have immediate control over our financial situation in the same way we do when we choose to have a nightcap or doomscroll on our phones right before bed. In addition to creating a healthy sleep routine, seeking help from a financial advisor or developing a solid budget are some positive, proactive steps to manage the stress.