Even in the modern age with all of the information we could possibly desire at our fingertips, myths about all subjects still exist. There are many misconceptions about sleep and getting to sleep that people believe to be true, which can negatively impact their lives. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of common myths about sleep you should stop believing in order to live a better life.
Common Myths About Sleeping
If you’re not sleeping enough during the week, you can catch up on sleep during the weekend.
The “work week” can be extremely busy. Between work, school, a social life, chores, and family time, it’s easy to lose sleep throughout the week. When we don’t get a full 7 to 9 hours during the week, many of us believe that we can sleep for longer during the weekends to catch up on these lost hours. However, this is a myth. Sleeping for longer over the weekend can mess up our sleep pattern and there is no way to ‘catch up’ on missed hours of sleep. Each day basically stands on its own relative to the amount of quality sleep and how productive you are the next day. Plus, the quality of sleep each night is directly related to your overall wellness and longevity. It’s all about consistency, so aim to get 7 to 9 hours each night.
Drinking alcohol before bed helps you fall asleep.
You think that a nightcap will help you fall asleep and stay asleep? Not so much. Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but that’s where the benefits end. Instead, alcohol traps you in the lighter stages of sleep, which means you don’t fall into REM sleep. REM sleep is the period of sleep that is vital for memory storage, learning, processing your mood, and dealing with stress. The less time you spend in REM sleep, the more likely you are to have trouble concentrating, recalling information, and recalling your emotions the next day.
If you’re always tired, you’re not sleeping enough.
Although being tired is a sign of not getting enough shut-eye, there are many other reasons why you might be feeling fatigued. Feeling tired can be attributed to not exercising enough, a poor diet, stress, sleep disorders, and more. Sleep quality is what matters more so that quantity. Working with a professional can help you understand your tiredness so you can start to feel rejuvenated again.
Ready to start feeling your best again? Contact Genesis Performance. We will help you fit in exercise and wellness practices into your current schedule and inspire you to reach optimal health. We help clients across the nation virtually, and are ready to get started today.
