You spend about a third of your life sleeping. While you might view sleep as an inconvenience at a young age, it plays a valuable role in your overall health and happiness.
Sleep is a complex process. It’s not as easy as closing your eyes and drifting off into dreamland. Your body goes through different stages, and knowing your specific sleep pattern can make all the difference.
Why Sleep Patterns Matter
Ask any sleep coach, and they’ll tell you that knowing your patterns is the first step in making positive changes. Maintaining healthy sleep habits is about preserving your internal clock and creating an environment conducive to recharging.
If you don’t understand how you sleep, you can’t make the necessary changes to see improvements. That’s why sleep studies and understanding the things your body goes through is crucial.
Sleep Stages
The various sleep stages involve different neural activities. You go through each one several times during the night, eventually helping you wake up feeling rejuvenated.
Stage 1
This non-rapid eye movement (REM) stage only lasts a few minutes. It’s considered light sleep as your brain waves slow down. You might experience muscle twitches, a slower heartbeat, and subdued breathing.
Stage 2
During this stage, your mind and body relax even more. Your body temperature dips, and eye movement stops. The brain continues to calm down, but brief bursts of electrical activity occur as it winds down.
Stage 3
This stage is critical if you want to feel refreshed when you wake up. It’s a deep sleep stage where your heartbeat and breathing slow down to the lowest levels.
REM Sleep
REM sleep is when you dream the most. It usually occurs about 90 minutes after you fall asleep. Your eyes begin to move around, and brain activity increases close to the same levels as when you’re awake.
Improving Your Sleep Habits
Getting a good night of rest isn’t easy. A sleep coach can help you make improvements. Understanding your sleep patterns goes a long way toward making subtle changes that make all the difference.
Author Resource:-
Alester Brown writes about mental and physical health. She advises people on difficulty sleeping & online sleep programs. You can find her thoughts at sleep reset blog.
