Of course! No! I don’t know… People behave very differently when it comes to making important decisions. Some prefer to “sleep on it,” while others decide impulsively, going with their gut. Which approach actually leads to better decisions is explained by sleep researcher Dr. Vorster from the Swiss Sleep House in Bern. 

“Let me sleep on it first”—you’ve probably used this phrase yourself when you couldn’t make up your mind. Dr. Vorster confirms that sleeping on a decision is more than just an old saying: “There are indeed scientific studies showing that we arrive at new, deeper insights after sleeping.” He refers to a study titled “Sleep inspires insight,” published in the journal Nature in 2004. 

“While we sleep, our brain replays the experiences of the day and forms new connections between our memories. This implicit process leads to previously hidden insights the next morning.” — Dr. Vorster, sleep researcher, Swiss Sleep House Bern 

In the study mentioned above, participants had to solve a puzzle—and the results were striking: those who were allowed to sleep after being given the task were much more likely to discover a hidden clue that helped them solve it faster. “During sleep, we place impressions into a new context and wake up with a fresh perspective,” explains Dr. Vorster. In short: we wake up with a different brain than the one we fell asleep with. 

A multitasker: the brain never sleeps

Our brain works continuously—even during sleep. “What’s fascinating,” Dr. Vorster continues, “is that while our fatigue disappears by morning, our brain remains active throughout the night and effectively keeps learning. It links different pieces of information and processes new knowledge.

” The bottom line: it’s often wise to sleep on important decisions, as it usually increases the chances of making the right choice. Before going to bed, we may not yet fully grasp the connections within a situation. It is only during sleep that this additional understanding emerges—that “Sherlock Holmes moment” when everything suddenly makes sense.

Dr. Vorster’s tip for better decision-making

“If you’re facing a major decision that involves many factors, it’s worth postponing it until the next morning. There’s a good chance you’ll wake up with new insights that will guide you to the right choice.” 

Source:

Dr. Albrecht Vorster, sleep researcher at the Swiss Sleep House in Bern (personal communication, October 14, 2024) Wagner, U., Gais, S., Haider, H. et al. Sleep inspires insight. Nature 427, 352–355 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02223 

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