Poor sleep may make you more impulsive

Sleep deprivation may put you at increased risk for succumbing to impulsive desires, inattentiveness and questionable decision-making, says a study. The researchers found that poor sleep habits can have a negative effect on self-control, which presents risks to individuals' personal and professional lives.

"Our study explored how sleep habits and self-control are interwoven and sleep habits and self-control may work together to affect a person's daily functioning," said one of the study authors June Pilcher, professor at Clemson University in the US.

"Exercising self-control allows one to make better choices when presented with conflicting desires and opportunities. That has far-reaching implications to a person's career and personal life." Poor sleep habits, which include inconsistent sleep times and not enough hours of sleep, can also lead to health problems, including weight gain, hypertension and illness.

Studies have found that sleep deprivation decreases self-control but increases hostility in people, which can create problems in the workplace and at home," Pilcher said. "Many aspects of our daily lives can be affected by better-managed sleep and self-control capacity."

"Improved health and worker performance are two potential benefits, but societal issues such as addictions, excessive gambling and over spending could also be more controllable when sleep deficiencies are not interfering with one's decision making," Pilcher said. The study appeared in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.