This is just my gut feeling, things are probably more complex, but here's why I think sleep deprivation deeply impacts us:
I used to have a crazy schedule, commuting very early and coming back quite late at home, sleeping between 4 to 5 hours a day. I've noticed
I was often in a bad mood, dropping things, feeling anxious. gaining weight and so on... After a couple of years I was feeling depressed and getting sick all the time.
Then I had a new job and started to work remotely from home, and started to sleep 8 to 9 hours per night. Both works were interesting, and commuting to the first one was done by train, so I think the only noticeable difference was the amount of sleep I was getting.
With more sleep, after a month, I became more focused in everything, the depression feelings went away, and had so much more energy. Overall I was more successful in what I was doing - happier and healthier.
I guess all of this sounds obvious, but going through it, making sure I get my 8-9 hours of sleep most of the time is something I am now careful about.
I used to have a crazy schedule, commuting very early and coming back quite late at home, sleeping between 4 to 5 hours a day. I've noticed I was often in a bad mood, dropping things, feeling anxious. gaining weight and so on... After a couple of years I was feeling depressed and getting sick all the time.
Then I had a new job and started to work remotely from home, and started to sleep 8 to 9 hours per night. Both works were interesting, and commuting to the first one was done by train, so I think the only noticeable difference was the amount of sleep I was getting.
With more sleep, after a month, I became more focused in everything, the depression feelings went away, and had so much more energy. Overall I was more successful in what I was doing - happier and healthier.
I guess all of this sounds obvious, but going through it, making sure I get my 8-9 hours of sleep most of the time is something I am now careful about.