One Method To Determine Your Actual Sleep Needs
How to know that you have enough sleep
The other day, I had a discussion with an old friend. And the subject of sleep came up. I mentioned that every night I get close to nine hours of sleep. That shocked my friend. He boasted that he only gets seven hours of sleep each night. I explained to him that I feel less than my best throughout the day if I don't get enough sleep. He concurred that getting enough sleep is essential and vowed never to get any less than he does now. But that got me wondering, "Could it be that I'm actually sleeping too much? Maybe he's the one who's sleeping too little? Or is it possible that we're actually both sleeping enough? You probably already know that sleep is good for you. There are a ton of negative effects if you don't get enough of it every day.
Mood swings, memory issues, lack of concentration, weight gain, slow reflexes, and fatigue are just a few examples. The list is endless. It's ironic that most people already struggle with all of these issues and are sleep deprived. They simply are unaware of their origins, which are caused by sleep deprivation. We purposefully get less sleep than our bodies require, which is one of the issues with modern society. Typically, it is due to our need to leave for work or school. We are sacrificing our health as a result, which is bad. So getting enough sleep can be a huge hidden benefit for you. Imagine having a brain that works faster than those around you. The right amount of sleep will enable you to achieve that. improved mood, increased concentration, improved clarity of thought, etc.
However, getting enough rest for a single night is insufficient. To enjoy these advantages, you must obtain adequate sleep each and every night. You may now be asking how much sleep you should be obtaining on a daily basis. The recommended amount of sleep is 7-9 hours, but how can you know where exactly you fit into that range? You must first realize that you are an entirely distinct individual. Additionally, a variety of outside circumstances affect how much sleep your body needs. As a result, there isn't a set quantity of sleep that is ideal for everyone because it varies from day to day. Allow me to elaborate.
You have most likely experienced illness in the past. Of course you did, and you probably got more than the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep during that time. When you're sick, you allow your body to rest for however long it requires so that you can get better as quickly as possible. You shouldn't let a predetermined number determine how much sleep or rest you require. You'll let your body decide that. We are aware that in order for the body to fully recover from physical stress, it requires more sleep. This implies that you require more sleep if you exercise, play any kind of sport, or move around a lot in general. Professional athletes are a great example of this. Basketball player Lebron James has stated that he slept for 12 hours each night. Tennis prodigy Roger Federer gets 11 to 12 hours per day as well. They are aware of how important sleep is to their performance. But do they count toward the advised 7-9 hours?
Yes, it does, but because they are straining their bodies to the limit, they require more than that to fully recover. However, because these athletes are not training as hard during their off-season, they obviously don't need 12 hours of sleep, so they get less. 7-9 hours is just a recommendation, not a personal prescription, see where I'm going with this. Unfortunately, it's impossible to predict in advance how much sleep your body will require. But there is one way to ensure that your body gets the best possible rest. And the way to do that without an alarm clock is by waking up naturally. You did hear that correctly, I assure you. There are no alarms. Since I stopped using an alarm clock more than a year ago, I've noticed a significant improvement in my sleep. Why does this work so well? Let me explain.
The effects of being abruptly awakened by noise are negative. It raises blood pressure and the heart rate. Additionally, your adrenaline rushes in the morning, causing stress. You do not desire it since it is not good. Alarm clocks are likewise terrible because of these two additional problems.
The first is that no two people require the exact same amount of sleep. Your body needs a typical amount of sleep if there is no physical or mental stress during the day. 7 to 9 hours. However, if you had a demanding day at work, a strenuous workout, and a substantial carbohydrate lunch a few hours before bed, your body would certainly benefit from extra sleep. Your alarm, however, is unaware of this and will wake you up nonetheless, causing you to get less sleep than is necessary for your body.
The second is that your sleep is composed of sleep cycles. REM and non-REM sleep are both parts of the typical 90-minute sleep cycle. Light sleep, or REM, is sleep. Dreams happen here, and we typically toss and turn a little bit. You don't want to be awakened during non-REM sleep, which is essentially deep sleep. You'll be waking up from REM sleep as soon as you let your body wake up naturally. You're in luck if your alarm goes off at this time because you won't feel quite as lethargic all day. However, if you're awakened during non-REM, you'll undoubtedly feel awful the rest of the day, or at least until you cover up your poor sleep with coffee or energy drinks. Whether you are having a REM or non-REM sleep is unknown to your alarm. Whatever happens, the phone will ring. Alarms are bad, so, yeah.
An excellent alternative to a typical alarm is the Sleep Cycle app, which you can download on your phone. To determine which stage of sleep you're in, it uses the smartphone's microphone to detect your movement. After that, when you are in the lightest stage of sleep, or REM sleep, it will attempt to gently wake you up. It doesn't necessarily follow that you got enough sleep just because you were awakened during the REM stage. Those are two entirely different things. However, compared to a standard alarm, this app is a much better option, and I wholeheartedly endorse it. Now, I implore you to attempt waking up without using an alarm for at least a week. See how you feel after doing so. It's likely that you'll discover that you need more sleep than you've been getting. This is typical. You don't want to sacrifice your sleep for anything because it is more crucial to your health than your diet and exercise regimen. Just keep in mind that sleeping more won't make you lazy. No, it simply indicates that your body needs it.
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KeepMakingProgress
"Keep Making Progress" is a call to action, a reminder that growth is a lifelong journey with no fixed destination. It encourages us to embrace change, overcome obstacles, foster innovation, and contribute to the society.
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