Does 'sleeping on it' really help you make better decisions? Harvard study says no... Do you agree?

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 14:03:40 -0500

That big decision is looming, so you decide to "sleep on it" first. But does that really help you make a better choice? We know that there are decisions that you have to make immediately... Those are not the ones in question. This is for those decisions where you have a bit of time.

So... Does "sleeping on it" help help you out, or not? Do you agree with Harvard research?

"The common wisdom is that more sleep is always beneficial, but an experiment by a group of researchers from Harvard Business School finds that not only does it not help, but it can sometimes make the decision more difficult by providing more time for doubt or confusion to seep in.

The study, published in the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, featured two different groups faced with the choice of entering a raffle where they could win only one of two computer bags. One group had to choose immediately and the other received a good night of sleep before making a decision.

"Sleeping on a decision engendered more positive thoughts about the choice set,'' the researchers concluded. "It might be assumed that this would make people feel better about their choice and more interested in pursuing it. However, counter to predictions based on previous literature, as well as common assumptions, sleep failed to improve perceptions of decision quality and indeed seemed to make participants more reluctant to consider commitment to the preferred item (e.g., spending money to purchase it)."

"Sleeping on it" can help people feel more positive about a decision, but not more confident about it, according to the researchers. Sleep has been proven to help people better perform cognitive tasks like problem solving and plenty of sleep is always recommended, but the team at Harvard finds that when it comes to a subjective decision, "sleeping on it" is not really going to change much."

Find out if 'sleeping on it' really helps you make better decisions

New research by Harvard Business School examines whether the conventional wisdom of getting a good night's sleep helps before making a big decision.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 8 at 2015 2:05 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 14:05:16 -0500

Yes when I am tired, or the decision is a hard one, I sleep on it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2015 2:08 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 14:08:24 -0500

I try hard to fight prolonging decisions. But big decisions deserve time to find research to back up and oppose my gut feeling.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 8 at 2015 2:08 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 14:08:58 -0500

It depends. If sleep will help you make a decision with your mind vs. your heart, then let that weigh in. Whether you go with the heart or mind, decisions always come from the gut.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 8 at 2015 2:17 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 14:17:10 -0500

Not sure if this is the same for anyone else, but for me I typically make a decision and go with it. While "sleeping on it" helps to avoid impulsive decisions.....for those that really know me, you know I live a very humble lifestyle (for instance I still drive a 1989 Jeep Comanche pickup truck) so if I feel I might be making an impulsive decision like buying something I might want but not necessarily need, I tend to take my time with the purchase. If I need something, I buy it however, if it is a want, I really take my time with it.

Response by TSgt David L. made Nov 8 at 2015 5:44 PM

TSgt David L. — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 17:44:57 -0500

I thought sleeping in WAS a better decision!

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Nov 8 at 2015 7:03 PM

SGT Patrick Reno — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 19:03:23 -0500

I always go with my gut feeling, or first impression. Always more right than wrong.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Nov 8 at 2015 7:21 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 19:21:50 -0500

I think it helps depending on what it is you are having to decide.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 8 at 2015 7:42 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 19:42:38 -0500

Sometimes sleeping on it, resting, or getting involved with completely unrelated activities seems to clear and refocus the mind MSgt Curtis Ellis . In many cases after I put the issue on the backburner so to speak, a clear answer presented itself. In my own case this tended to happen more frequently after I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Nov 8 at 2015 7:49 PM

Sgt Spencer Sikder — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 19:49:32 -0500

I believe it's safe to say there are many messages or communications we had wished we slept on it before we stepped in "it."

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 8 at 2015 8:04 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 20:04:45 -0500

Sometimes thinking about the consequences of the decision are better than making a rash decision

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Nov 9 at 2015 9:25 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 09:25:54 -0500

I make sure I have the minimum information needed to make an informed (I started to say intelligent, but...) decision, and then I make it.

I used to delay, seek perfect information, try to consider all angles, sleep on it, etc. However, my experience is that once I had a baseline of information, all I was doing was delaying the decision that I KNEW I was going to make. You get some analysis paralysis and frustration past a certain point.

My wife was really good in pointing this out to me. I would tell her that I was trying to decide about X and she would ask me what I thought I would decide. Interestingly, I almost always am able to answer that question....

About the only questions I can think of right now that I am doing the take more time approach to are ones where I don't think I have the bare minimum information.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Nov 9 at 2015 9:48 AM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 09:48:42 -0500

Well.....while I'm sleeping I try not to make any decisions. LOL no, but really...I try not to make a hasty decision...I'll weigh things out and depending on the situation I'll research and find out information pertinent to making my decision before making it...so if this is what constitutes "sleeping on it" then I guess I do this.

Response by CW3 Jim Norris made Nov 9 at 2015 10:31 AM

CW3 Jim Norris — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 10:31:35 -0500

The term is actually - take some time to ponder major decisions - in the heat of the moment you really can afford the new Corvette.....but after a few hours and maybe a visit to the grocery store and your kid breaks an ankle.....you know, life happens - you figure that extra $300.00 a month onto your current car payment is really 'cool' enough to drive with the top down. Sleeping probably does nothing, pondering and getting out of the situation where you're being pressed for a decision is more likely to result in a decision you can live with.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 9:03 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 09:03:37 -0500

Sleeping on it seems to help more on impulse buying. If you still want it the next day then go for it. If not, you just saved yourself some money. lol

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Dec 11 at 2015 8:36 AM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 08:36:02 -0500

I think the saying is a bit old-fashioned, and taken literally is horrible advice. I don't make any decisions during the time I set aside for rest. I have discovered that people who lay up at night problem solving have higher stress levels and tend to have poorer health Setting a timeline to think about the decision and sitting down and researching it and discussing it with your spouse with the information is front of you is how to make a decision, not staring at the ceiling while your wife snoors like a bear.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Dec 11 at 2015 10:24 AM

SSG Todd Halverson — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 10:24:26 -0500

Most of the time I have found that sleeping on it just delays the decision and doesn't really change anything. I sometimes talk myself out of impulse buys, but the important decisions rarely change at all.

Response by Malcolm Burgess made May 16 at 2022 3:35 AM

Malcolm Burgess — Mon, 16 May 2022 03:35:39 -0400

Common sleeping disorders

There are a variety of sleeping disorders, each with its own set of symptoms. Some common sleep disorders include restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. Each disorder has different causes and treatments, so it’s important to get evaluated by a doctor if you’re experiencing any unusual symptoms while sleeping. In this blog post, let’s get to know more about the most common sleep disorder, how to get enough sleep and how are sleep disorders diagnosed!

Read more here -https://zoloftinsomnia.com/common-sleeping-disorders/

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