The benefits of a good night’s rest are well known, but a new study finds it can literally translate to more money in your pocket.
The research, conducted by Matthew Gibson of Williams College and Jeffrey Shrader of the University of California at San Diego, found correlations between earnings and sleep. The researchers came to their conclusions by comparing sunset times across the country.
Earnings and sleep – a strong correlation
Gibson and Shrader used sunset times, they explained, because according to past research, people naturally sleep longer when the sun sets earlier. They found that on average, the weekly earnings of those with an earlier sunset (and an earlier sleep schedule) were $15.40 more than those with a later sunset.
The researchers also found that a one-hour increase in average weekly sleep increased wages by 1.3 percent in the short run, and 5 percent in the long run, meaning that just by simply moving to a new location with an earlier sunset, a worker could make an additional $1,570 a year.
Furthermore, communities with more efficient sleep schedules see higher home values in their area. Counties that experience sunsets earlier than their respective time zone’s average sunset time have, on average, a 6 percent higher median home value – about $7,900 to $8,800 dollars – according to the report.
Getting more sleep and boosting productivity
When working in real estate, getting a full nine hours of sleep is not a luxury that you always have; however, there are a couple easy ways to make sure you get the most out of your sleep.
1. Organizing a schedule – There is a subtle interplay between how people schedule their lives, how much time they have available to sleep, and how those factors impact worker performance and, ultimately, earnings. Try to maintain a regular sleep schedule by waking up and going to bed at the same time every day.
2. Turn off the tech – The blue light from computers and mobile devices tells our brains we do not have to go to sleep, therefore affecting our ability to fall asleep. A separate study from Larry Rosen, a research psychologist with California State University, found smartphone use around bedtime led to a longer period of falling asleep, and a lack of quality sleep. Therefore, shut off electronics a half hour to an hour before you are ready to go to sleep.