In the 1950s, we began to understand that there were different stages of sleep. Although everyone is aware that there are various stages of sleep, few people know how these affect sleep hygiene.
Understanding the stages of sleep will help you to identify the cause of your lack of sleep or implement a plan for regulating and balancing your sleep hygiene. This knowledge should affect your sleeping habits. Some of the best mattresses have been designed with sleep stages in mind.
Understand your sleep stages
Early stages of sleep usually include a high degree of alertness. The first stage of a person’s sleep cycle involves a brief period when they are awake, but then drift off to sleep. This lasts between five and ten minutes.
The body moves to Stage 2 which lasts less than 30 minutes. During this time, the brain produces intermittent bursts known as sleep spindles. This stage is marked by a drop in body temperature, a slowing of the heart rate, and regularisation of breathing.
The third stage is also known as NREM. This stage is characterized by a relaxed muscle tone, a deep state of sleep and a reduced sensitivity to external stimuli.
As your brain leaves the NREM stage, it enters REM sleep. During this time, you are generally awake, relaxed, and breathing may be faster. About 20% of total sleep time is spent in REM.
The stages of sleep are not sequential, despite their numbering. Good sleep hygiene involves moving from Stage 1 to 2, 3 and then back to Stage 2 before entering a REM phase. This may vary depending on the individual. The cycle is repeated throughout the night, until you are up and about in the morning. Lack of sleep is often caused by not spending enough time in Stage 3.
Comfortable sleep at all stages
The best mattresses are not only important for posture and comfort but also because they promote proper sleep progression, leading to improved sleep hygiene.
What is the best mattress to help improve sleep? It will probably vary from person to person depending on what is causing the lack of sleep.
You may want to consider a cooling bed if you are a hot sleeper. This will regulate your body temperature throughout the night. Memory foam mattresses are a favorite among those who want to find a balance between support and comfort to improve their sleeping hygiene. Best mattresses are highly breathable. If you have enough air flow in your bedroom then you will feel cooler.
You can also check to see if your sleeping position is well supported throughout the night. Memory foam mattresses are also the best in this respect. The best mattresses contour to the body and allow you to breathe more deeply, slowly, and with ease.
Many adults around the world suffer from a lack of sleep. Understanding the stages of sleeping and how these affect your personal sleeping patterns will help you achieve great sleep hygiene and become a more balanced individual.