Better sleep might help you feel like your best self during the day. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule has positive effects on cognition, memory, creativity, and disposition. Getting enough quality sleep might help you fight off illness and make it simpler to stick to a nutritious eating plan.
On the other hand, if you aren’t receiving enough rest, you may experience a decline in your mental and physical performance. If you’re not getting enough sleep, it can be noticeable. It’s also possible to develop accustomed to the negative effects of inadequate sleep over time, to the point where you don’t even realize how they’re affecting your health and wellbeing.
You are reading: What Is Healthy Sleep? Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Think about how you normally spend the night and how restful your sleep is. Having the recommended amount of sleep each night is only half the battle; getting quality, undisturbed sleep during those hours on a nightly basis is just as important.
What Is a Healthy Sleep Pattern?
The effects of sleep on the human body are far-reaching and multifaceted. We progress from stage 1 and 2 of light sleep to stage 3 of deep sleep and finally to stage 4 of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep throughout the course of a typical night’s rest. In order for sleep to restore our bodies and minds, it must be able to progress through all of these stages numerous times per night. Sleep benefits most when you get enough of it each night, can fall asleep and stay asleep with little interruption, and stick to a regular sleep pattern that works with your circadian cycles. Below, we’ll go into greater detail about each of these factors in establishing a regular sleep routine.
Sleep Duration
Part of developing a decent sleep routine is ensuring you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep each night. Most individuals need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night, and those over the age of 65 need between 7 and 8 hours, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Children, due to their quick rate of growth and development, are recommended to get more sleep than adults, with the exact number of hours each night changing with age. When it comes to sleep, infants could use up to 17 hours nightly, while teenagers could do with 8-10 hours.
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These recommendations might serve as a starting point as you consider what a healthy night’s sleep means for you, but it’s important to remember that everyone has different sleep requirements. You may require more or less sleep than the recommended amount, depending on factors including your genetic makeup, daily routine, and activity level.
Sleep Continuity
When we sleep well, it lasts the whole night. A night of uninterrupted sleep is more restorative than one that is disrupted multiple times or for extended periods of time. An unhealthy quantity of deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep may be avoided if your sleep is frequently interrupted. For instance, those who suffer from sleep apnea frequently wake up briefly during the night because their breathing has stopped. The average amount of time these people spend sleeping may seem regular, yet they nonetheless suffer from sleep deprivation because of frequent awakenings.
According to the available data, the quality of our sleep is at least as crucial as the total amount of time we spend asleep in order to ensure proper brain and body function. Greater sleep continuity was associated with improved cognitive performance the next day, and this effect persisted even after controlling for total sleep time.
Sleep Timing
When you go to bed and wake up in a given 24 hour period matters. Having a healthy circadian rhythm requires synchronization between your internal clock and external stimuli. The primary factor influencing circadian rhythms is light exposure. Dim illumination or total darkness initiate chemical changes that encourage sleep, whereas bright light stimulates biological processes that make us feel alert. It is more challenging to fall asleep, stay asleep, and receive enough hours of sleep when sleep scheduling is not matched with circadian rhythms, as is the situation for many shift workers or persons experiencing jet lag.
Having a consistent bedtime also helps you sleep better. Scientists who experimented with mice by altering their normal sleep pattern discovered that while the mice slept for the same amount of time as before, the quality of their sleep worsened. People who stick to a normal bedtime are less likely to develop metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Is Your Sleep Healthy?
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There are many short-term and long-term benefits to healthy sleep, and assessing your nightly experience of sleep in terms of duration, continuity, and timing is just the beginning. Here are some signs you may have a regular sleep schedule:
- One of the best parts of getting up in the morning is how refreshed you feel.
- high levels of vitality throughout the day
- Enjoying one’s self
- Possessing a sound mind
The opposite is true for an unhealthy sleep pattern, which also has its own unique symptoms. The following symptoms may present themselves in those who suffer from chronic sleep deprivation or whose nightly sleep is of low quality:
- Having a hard time rousing oneself for the day
- Distracted and struggling to concentrate
- Tension, melancholy, or worry
- Being so tired you need to take a nap during the day
- When there is less pressure on one’s schedule, people tend to sleep for much longer or later.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it’s time to take a close look at your sleep hygiene to see if you can improve your quality of rest by making some changes to your living space, your routine throughout the day, and your time in bed.
Help Is Available
Consult your physician for advice on how to improve your sleep hygiene. If you are afraid that you may have a sleep issue or if you are already practicing excellent sleep hygiene but are still having trouble sleeping, it is equally vital to consult a health expert. Your doctor will be able to assist you determine what might be affecting your sleep and offer suggestions for how to improve your slumber.
Quick sleep tips
If you want to improve your sleeping habits, try the following:
- Maintain a regular bedtime. Follow a regular morning routine, even when you’re on vacation.
- Make sure you get at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night by establishing an early bedtime.
- Don’t hit the sack unless you’re feeling exhausted.
- After 20 minutes, you should get up from bed if you haven’t fallen asleep. Get away from the light and engage in some quiet pursuits. Avoiding technological devices is especially crucial.
- Create a calm evening ritual that you may enjoy before turning in for the night.
- Avoid any other activities on your bed and use it just for sleeping and making love.
- Create a soothing atmosphere in your bedroom. Maintain a pleasant, relaxing temperature in the space.
- Try to avoid excessive nighttime exposure to strong light.
- At least 30 minutes before night, disconnect from technology.
- Don’t stuff yourself with food right before bed. Eat something light and healthful if you find yourself hungry late at night.
- Consistently engage in physical activity and eat healthily.
- Don’t drink caffeine after 2 in the afternoon.
- Never drink alcohol within a few hours of going to bed.
- As night approaches, try to drink less water.
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Category: Sleep Advisors
