Everyone has different opinions on the best sleeping methods. You’ll hear many people live by the adage “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” or you’ll have someone who feels like they can’t function unless they get double digits. Investigating these common sleep myths that everyone believes will provide answers.
“As Long As I Sleep Eight Hours, I’m Good”
Many assume that the number of hours you sleep correlates with how effective it is. While that’s generally true, a nine-hour snooze doesn’t do much good when you wake up multiple times at night. You waking up constantly might be why you slept for nine hours.
Multiple awakenings throughout a sleep cycle may impede the capacity to effectively progress through the sleep cycle, reducing the time you are in your most restorative sleep state.
“My Body Doesn’t Need Sleep”
Many friends say their bodies can function without sleep because it’s common. You can call them out on their lies because that’s not true. Sleep deprivation has short- and long-term consequences, implying that no one’s body can adjust accordingly.
Someone might last running on fumes the following day, but it catches up with them eventually, negatively impacting their daily performance. Don’t make it the norm to wake up the next morning after sleeping for only five hours, or else you’ll regret it down the road.
“I Slept Like a Rock”
Everyone uses this expression to imply how well they slept because they didn’t move at night. While that might indicate you got a good night’s rest, it doesn’t mean all that much. Minor body movements are completely normal while sleeping and only become a concern if they become more violent, abnormal, or cause you to wake frequently.
“I Can’t Control My Snoring”
It’s not uncommon for women to disregard any snoring problems they may have. Other than the fact that it’s embarrassing to admit, it also feels impossible to fix the problem. However, seeing a specialist can fix the issue at hand and diagnose the culprit of your snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea is more prevalent in men, but OSA can also affect women and be dangerous because they don’t want to see a doctor about their snoring.
“I Can Fall Asleep Anywhere”
It might be convenient to have the ability to sleep anywhere in any position, but it’s not a strong gauge of how good a sleeper you are. In all actuality, it’s more of a sign that you are a bad sleeper because you are perpetually exhausted.
Every person’s goal should be to get a solid seven to eight hours of sound sleep every night. It most certainly isn’t to crash at a desk for 15 minutes during your break since you can.
Busting these common sleep myths that everyone believes may break or prevent bad habits. Here’s to hoping you take these pieces of fiction and get a wonderful night of rest.
Emma is a writer and editor passionate about providing accessible, accurate information. Her work is dedicated to helping people of all ages, interests, and professions with useful, relevant content.