Those who have trouble sleeping know that sleep is not always easy to find. Here are 4 common misconceptions about sleep that should help you sleep better.
The ease or otherwise of falling into the arms of Morpheus is one of the greatest injustices on Earth! For some, all you need to do is sit comfortably in bed and close your eyes to fall asleep. But for others, the nights are sleepless and the threat of insomnia always present.
It must be said that there are certain behaviors to adopt and avoid to fall asleep quickly in the evening, which are sometimes still too little known. Whether it’s the amount of sleep per night, melatonin, or sleeping in, here are 4 preconceived ideas about sleep that are true or false depending on the case.
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1. Sleeping in allows you to recover well
It’s wrong ! If you don’t have a problem sleeping at night, then a lie-in on the weekend isn’t a problem. On the other hand, people prone to insomnia would do better to avoid sleeping in, and the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance says so!
Indeed, specialists recommend keeping the same time for getting up every day so as not to shift your internal biological clock and thus guarantee the sleep-wake balance. If you need to recover, prefer a nap of 20 minutes maximum.
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2. You need to sleep at least 8 hours a night
It’s wrong ! If you need to sleep an average of eight hours per night, some people need more hours of sleep and others less. In fact, heavy sleepers can sleep up to 10 hours per night, while others only need 5 or 6 hours of sleep.
Note that sleep duration also varies depending on age. For example, a baby sleeps between 15 and 17 hours a day. And a 10 year old child will need 10 hours of sleep per night. You just need to listen to your body to know its rhythm.
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3. You have to get out of bed if you have insomnia
It’s true ! Insomnia can annoy us to no end and we quickly find ourselves ruminating in bed, which definitely doesn’t help us sleep. So when sleep does not come, it is advisable to get out of bed.
For example, you can sit on your sofa with dim lighting and practice relaxation and breathing exercises. It’s much more effective than tossing and turning in bed all the time.
4. It is possible to have conscious dreams
It’s true ! Being conscious while dreaming is called lucid dreaming. And this is not so rare since around 55% of adults experience lucid dreaming at least once in their life, according to a study and 23% have a lucid dream at least once a month.
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For those who don’t have the slightest idea what it is, lucid dreaming involves realizing that we are dreaming without actually waking up. With a little practice, some might even be able to take control of their dream and choose the scenario.
Passionate about women’s news, Agathe has been deciphering the latest trends for aufeminin since 2022. Her favorite areas? Psychology, nutrition and well-being advice, without forgetting the tips…