What is good sleep?

We all have heard that 7-9 hours is considered to be the optimum amount of sleep that allows us to wake up rested and re-energised. Yet, many still find themselves dreading the sound of their alarm clock in the morning despite having their full 8 hours of shut-eye. The reason? The quality of sleep they receive.

Sleep quality is as important - if not more - than sleep duration. Let’s put it this way: 10 hours of restless tossing and turning is not going to be more satisfying than a big, juicy 2 hour nap after a heavy lunch.

So, what exactly defines a good sleep?

The 4 determinants of quality sleep as included in a report published on sleep health, are:

1. Sleeping deeply, for longer

In the comparison mentioned above, a deep 2-hour nap could actually be higher quality sleep as compared to 10-hours of laying in bed, eyes shut but mind wide awake.

Sleep is an active process, with several stages that happen during our sleep cycle being crucial to growth, relaxation and repair. In fact, at least 85% of our sleep should be spent in deep sleep! But for that to happen, we need to actually set aside an adequate amount of time to rest.

2. Falling asleep in 30 minutes or less

Safe to say, we have all resorted to counting sheep in a desperate attempt at falling asleep. Some nights we hope that by the time we count all the sheep in all of Australia (fun fact: Australia has more than 60million sheep!), we’ll drift off to dreamland. However, the more time we take to fall asleep, the more groggy we will feel in the morning as our sleep quality is reduced.

3. Waking up more than once per night

There are many reasons why we might wake up at night, from physical ailments such as allergies, acid reflux and body aches, to emotional or mental turmoil we suffer. Waking up more than once however, interrupts your natural sleep cycle. This not only disrupts the important processes that occur during sleep, but also make it harder to fall asleep again each time, sapping away precious minutes of rest.

4. Being awake for 20 mins or less after initially falling asleep

If we do end up waking up in the middle of sleep, it is imperative that we try to sleep again as soon as possible. In the case that you have trouble falling into slumber again, getting out of bed and doing something relaxing is your best bet. Read a book, stretch, or brew a cup of caffeine-free tea! Whatever you do, avoid looking at your screens as that will only cause you to be more alert and less sleepy.

After all is said and done, perhaps the greatest tell-tale sign of whether you had a good night’s rest is whether you feel refreshed, awake, and raring to go when you arise from your slumber. If you find yourself having trouble falling asleep, if a million thoughts race through your mind each night, or if you simply feel groggy and moody even after a night of rest, SleepSnugg is here to help. With a range of products thoughtfully designed to give you the sleep others can only dream about, you’ll be certain to rest deeper and awake refreshed. Take your first step towards better sleep here!

Sweet Dreams!