What Should a Normal Sleep Cycle Look Like?

Getting enough sleep is crucial to our health and well-being. A healthy sleep cycle looks different for everyone. That’s why it’s hard to say what a “normal” sleep cycle looks like. To get more ideas and products that can help you sleep, check this Sleep Connection article. 

How much sleep do I need?

The right amount of sleep depends on the person. Everyone is unique in their sleep needs, so not everyone falls in the average. As long as you wake up feeling refreshed and are not excessively tired during the day, you are most likely getting enough sleep.

The older we get, the less sleep we need. Older adults on average sleep less than younger adults. The average adult needs at least six hours of sleep per night to stay healthy. 

How do I know if I’m getting enough sleep?

You are getting enough sleep if you wake up feeling refreshed and can get through your day without feeling extremely tired.

Since each person is different, it is hard to say how much sleep you need. For the most part, your body handles rest all on its own. If you are having trouble falling asleep, it could be because your body doesn’t need as much sleep as you think it does. 

Why is it important to have a regular sleep schedule?

Keeping a regular sleep schedule helps your body stay on track with its internal clock. This not only helps you fall asleep easier each night, but it also helps you wake up easier each day. 

An irregular sleep schedule makes it harder to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and other health problems.

Healthy sleep involves the consistency of our sleep habits, not just the duration of our sleep. If you are looking to improve your sleep, setting a schedule can help. You can also wear a wrist monitor that will track your sleep more accurately.

What does a healthy sleep cycle pattern look like?

For most people, it takes time to fall asleep. This is a normal part of our everyday sleep cycle. The time it takes to fall asleep varies for each individual. 

The average person falls asleep between ten and thirty minutes after laying down in bed. Not everyone falls within the average. Even if it takes you longer than thirty minutes to fall asleep, you may still be getting enough sleep. 

The two states of sleeping are REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement). The majority of our time spent sleeping is NREM. Check out WebMD to learn more about these sleep states.

There are three stages of NREM sleep, which range from very light sleep to deep sleep. During the night, we fall into a light sleep and transition to deeper sleep. After we have been sleeping deeply for a while, we transition into REM sleep. 

As we sleep through the night, we cycle between NREM and REM. This explains why we sometimes wake up in the middle of the night. We wake up during periods of lighter sleep. It is perfectly normal to wake up in the middle of the night occasionally. It doesn’t mean you aren’t getting enough sleep.

How can I improve my sleep cycles?

You can’t control your sleep cycles. Your body sleeps the way it needs to on its own. It is impossible to make yourself fall asleep instantly, get an exact amount of sleep, or control your sleep stages.

One way to improve your sleep is to focus on sleep pressure. Sleep pressure refers to your body’s drive to sleep. The longer we go without sleep, the stronger our sleep pressure becomes. If you are having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, your sleep pressure is low.

While you can’t control what your body does while you are sleeping, you can practice good sleeping habits to improve your sleep. 

Try to get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day, avoid large meals and caffeine two hours before bedtime, dim the lights, avoid screens, and do something relaxing before bed. Try not to take naps throughout the day.

Try to make your sleeping environment as comfortable as possible. Find the right mattress, the right bedding, and the right temperature for you. Everyone is different, so feel free to experiment with different sleeping environments. 

How can I compensate for lost sleep?

Your body will make up for lost sleep on its own. There is no way to control sleep or sleep cycles. If you have pulled an all-nighter or feel that you have not been getting enough sleep, your body will cycle through the stages of sleep throughout the night in exactly the way it needs.

What if I’m not getting enough sleep?

If you are not getting enough sleep, your health will start to decline in the long term. A few days of not sleeping enough will not cause any harm to your body. However, weeks or months of not getting enough sleep increases your risk of health problems.

There are things you can do to improve the sleep that you do get. Start by creating a sleep schedule and sticking to it. This makes it easier to fall asleep and wake up. Next, create a nighttime ritual for the one or two hours you have before bed. Use this time to relax in a peaceful environment. 

Make your sleeping environment as comfortable as possible. This includes not only your bed, but also the room. Make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and at the right temperature for you. Sleep in comfortable clothes and consider using an air purifier or air conditioner to create a steady noise throughout the night. 

If you are looking for a better night’s sleep, there are products you can buy to help. For example, you can try a white noise machine to provide steady sound or earplugs to block out noises. There are plenty of other products that can help you sleep as well.