Not getting enough sleep can raise your risk of depression by 80%

We lead busy lives, and sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the day to fit everything in. Between work and family responsibilities, many of us find ourselves sacrificing sleep to get it all done. You’re probably well aware of the negative impact a lack of sleep can have on your mood, but a new study might make you think twice the next time you’re tempted to stay up late finishing that project or TV show.

According to research from Georgia Southern University, getting just six hours of sleep a night – an amount many people consider acceptable if not ideal – can raise your risk of depression by a remarkable 80 percent. It may just be an hour less than the recommended seven hours, but its impact is dramatic, raising people’s risk of unpleasant feelings like nervousness, restlessness and helplessness as well.

If you’re a woman, the news is even worse, as women were found to be especially vulnerable to insomnia’s effects. When you add this to the fact that hormones already make women more likely to be depressed, it’s clearly worth making the effort to get enough sleep.