How to Get a Good Night's Sleep (According to Science)
Sleep scientist Dr Carmel Harrington reveals exactly how to get enough rest for optimum health and productivity
Binge watching your favourite TV series into the wee hours? Checking your emails in bed? Tossing and turning until the alarm’s about to go off? Skimping on sleep can cause more problems than you realise, making you more prone to serious illnesses and less productive at work. Here’s a guide to how much sleep you need – and how to get it.
How much sleep do you need per night?
Experts recommend adults have between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.
Experts recommend adults have between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.
Understand the sleep cycle
Not all sleep is the same – there are different stages we go through every night that help repair and refresh our brains and bodies. These stages are light sleep, deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, also known as dream sleep.
What is light sleep?
Your body is just beginning to relax, preparing itself for sleep. People often drift in and out of this stage and many people experience a sudden feeling of falling, all of which is completely normal. Later in this stage, your brain begins to slow down as your body prepares for deeper sleep.
Not all sleep is the same – there are different stages we go through every night that help repair and refresh our brains and bodies. These stages are light sleep, deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, also known as dream sleep.
What is light sleep?
Your body is just beginning to relax, preparing itself for sleep. People often drift in and out of this stage and many people experience a sudden feeling of falling, all of which is completely normal. Later in this stage, your brain begins to slow down as your body prepares for deeper sleep.
What is deep sleep?
During deep sleep, the body and brain are at their most relaxed. If you’ve ever tried to wake someone and it was incredibly difficult, they were probably in deep sleep. This stage of sleep is essential for a healthy body; during this time the body builds and repairs muscles and prepares to meet the physical challenges of the waking hours.
During deep sleep, the body and brain are at their most relaxed. If you’ve ever tried to wake someone and it was incredibly difficult, they were probably in deep sleep. This stage of sleep is essential for a healthy body; during this time the body builds and repairs muscles and prepares to meet the physical challenges of the waking hours.
What is REM sleep?
This sleep stage is most associated with dreaming. During REM sleep, most of your muscles are paralysed (except for your eye muscles and those you use to breathe). This is a good thing, otherwise you might act out your dreams.
During this stage of sleep the brain is very active and without sufficient REM sleep you will have trouble learning and remembering. If you experience a lack of REM sleep, you may also find it difficult to control your emotions.
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This sleep stage is most associated with dreaming. During REM sleep, most of your muscles are paralysed (except for your eye muscles and those you use to breathe). This is a good thing, otherwise you might act out your dreams.
During this stage of sleep the brain is very active and without sufficient REM sleep you will have trouble learning and remembering. If you experience a lack of REM sleep, you may also find it difficult to control your emotions.
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A complete sleep cycle is roughly 90 to 110 minutes, and involves going through each of the three sleep stages. On average, adults go through five sleep cycles a night.
In healthy young adults, REM sleep accounts for approximately 20 to 25 percent, light sleep accounts for about 55 percent, and deep sleep for roughly 15 to 20 percent. As we age, we have more light sleep and less deep and REM sleep.
In healthy young adults, REM sleep accounts for approximately 20 to 25 percent, light sleep accounts for about 55 percent, and deep sleep for roughly 15 to 20 percent. As we age, we have more light sleep and less deep and REM sleep.
What are the signs you’re not getting enough sleep?
Your body is very good at letting you know if you are not getting the right quantity or quality of sleep.
If you wake up feeling refreshed and able to meet the challenges of the day without feeling exhausted or overwhelmed, you are probably getting the sleep your body requires.
If, on the other hand, you are sleeping in excess of nine hours and feel tired, sad, depressed or exhausted when you wake, then you need to speak with your doctor as there might be something not quite right with your sleep or your mental or physical health that may be rectified if diagnosed.
Your body is very good at letting you know if you are not getting the right quantity or quality of sleep.
If you wake up feeling refreshed and able to meet the challenges of the day without feeling exhausted or overwhelmed, you are probably getting the sleep your body requires.
If, on the other hand, you are sleeping in excess of nine hours and feel tired, sad, depressed or exhausted when you wake, then you need to speak with your doctor as there might be something not quite right with your sleep or your mental or physical health that may be rectified if diagnosed.
Is my child sleep deprived?
Studies of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have shown that up to 70 percent of them have sleep problems – either difficulty with the sleep process itself, such as initiating sleep; difficulty getting enough sleep; trouble staying asleep; or a sleep disorder that prevents them from getting the sleep they need, such as sleep apnoea or restless legs.
Many of the symptoms of ADHD are very similar to the symptoms of insufficient and disordered sleep. A diagnosis of ADHD in children frequently comes about after a child exhibits some or all of the behavioural symptoms of this disorder, such as difficulty paying attention, forgetfulness, disorganisation, or impulsiveness – all of which are also behaviours consistent with an overtired child.
Studies of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have shown that up to 70 percent of them have sleep problems – either difficulty with the sleep process itself, such as initiating sleep; difficulty getting enough sleep; trouble staying asleep; or a sleep disorder that prevents them from getting the sleep they need, such as sleep apnoea or restless legs.
Many of the symptoms of ADHD are very similar to the symptoms of insufficient and disordered sleep. A diagnosis of ADHD in children frequently comes about after a child exhibits some or all of the behavioural symptoms of this disorder, such as difficulty paying attention, forgetfulness, disorganisation, or impulsiveness – all of which are also behaviours consistent with an overtired child.
How to prepare your bedroom for a good night’s sleep
Create the optimal environment for a good night’s sleep by preparing your bedroom beforehand. Ensure it is:
Create the optimal environment for a good night’s sleep by preparing your bedroom beforehand. Ensure it is:
- Cool.
- Quiet.
- Dark.
- The air is clean.
Pay attention to air quality
Research shows that poor air quality in your bedroom can:
Research shows that poor air quality in your bedroom can:
- Increase your vulnerability to sleep-breathing problems, such as hypoventilation, sleep apnoea and rhinitis.
- Cause fragmented sleep.
- Delay the initiation of sleep.
- Decrease sleep duration.
- Cause excessive daytime sleepiness and poor productivity.
Using an air purifier is a great way to clean the air. Research shows that purifying the air can help:
- Reduce susceptibility to asthma and rhinitis.
- Improve sleep duration.
- Improve sleep quality in adults and children.
- Reduce the severity of sleep apnoea.
Switch off your devices early
Have you ever closed your laptop or put down your mobile just before bed then tossed and turned for ages trying to get to sleep? If so, the trouble you’re having falling asleep could be attributed to your digital habits. There is an extensive amount of research indicating that light-emitting technology is very disruptive to our sleep.
When you sit in front of a computer screen or stare at your phone – both bright light sources – you trick the brain into thinking there is no fading light, so your brain does not start producing the hormone melatonin that our bodies need to sleep. The body only produces melatonin during the dark hours and production is switched off as soon as light is detected.
To get quality, consolidated sleep, you need to switch off at least one hour before bed. This will also allow your mind to start relaxing so you don’t go to bed with an overactive brain, which can make getting to sleep very difficult.
Have you ever closed your laptop or put down your mobile just before bed then tossed and turned for ages trying to get to sleep? If so, the trouble you’re having falling asleep could be attributed to your digital habits. There is an extensive amount of research indicating that light-emitting technology is very disruptive to our sleep.
When you sit in front of a computer screen or stare at your phone – both bright light sources – you trick the brain into thinking there is no fading light, so your brain does not start producing the hormone melatonin that our bodies need to sleep. The body only produces melatonin during the dark hours and production is switched off as soon as light is detected.
To get quality, consolidated sleep, you need to switch off at least one hour before bed. This will also allow your mind to start relaxing so you don’t go to bed with an overactive brain, which can make getting to sleep very difficult.
Your turn
How do you ensure you get a good night’s sleep? Tell us in the Comments below; like, save and share this story; and join the conversation.
More
Looking to create a more restful night’s sleep? You won’t want to miss this story – Expert Opinion: How to Sleep in a Heatwave
How do you ensure you get a good night’s sleep? Tell us in the Comments below; like, save and share this story; and join the conversation.
More
Looking to create a more restful night’s sleep? You won’t want to miss this story – Expert Opinion: How to Sleep in a Heatwave
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