Sleep is something we all do—a lot. But if you’re like me and have trouble sleeping, it can be frustrating to know that you’re not getting enough rest each night. Lack of sleep can affect your physical health, mental well-being, and even productivity.
So what can you do about it? The first step is understanding how sleep works so that you know what factors are affecting your ability to get the right amount of rest each night. This article will cover everything from brain activity during sleep to how much physical activity affects quality of rest.
Sleep is a complex process.
Sleep is a complex process. We spend about one-third of our lives asleep, but what we know about sleep has been learned through observation and experimentation, rather than from direct study of the brain itself.
In fact, scientists still don’t fully understand why we need to sleep at all–but they do know that it’s crucial for memory and learning; physical health; emotional stability (and therefore mental health); creativity; and even weight loss!
The brain goes through several stages while sleeping.
Scientists have identified multiple stages of sleep:
- Light sleep, also known as stage 1. Your brain is still active, but you’re more likely to be awakened by sounds or movements. You might feel like you’re drifting in and out of sleep.
- Deep sleep. This is when your body starts producing theta waves that help you feel relaxed and rested after waking up from a nap or at the end of the night’s sleep cycle. It’s also thought that deep sleep may help repair certain parts of your memory while consolidating new information into long-term storage (hence why we can’t seem to remember what happened right after we wake up).
- Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep–the final stage before waking up completely where dreaming occurs! Your eyes dart around rapidly while sleeping giving this phase its name; however they don’t actually move under their lids like they do during REM episodes while awake because there isn’t enough oxygen flowing through them yet
Your physical and mental health both affect your sleep quality.
It’s true that sleep quality can be affected by many factors, some of which have nothing to do with your physical or mental health. For example, if you’re in a noisy environment and unable to block out the noise, this will impact your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Sleep experts recommend that you keep the bedroom as quiet as possible for optimal results.
Another major cause of poor sleep quality is medications that affect our bodies’ natural ability to regulate their internal clocks (such as antidepressants). If you’re taking any type of medication that affects how quickly or slowly your body processes food or beverages–including alcohol–it could be affecting how well you rest at night!
It’s important to get enough sleep.
It’s important to get enough sleep. Not only does it affect your body, mind and mood, but it also affects your memory and learning abilities. Sleep affects the immune system, metabolism and heart health as well as weight management and mental health.
Why choosing the right mattress matters
Choosing the right mattress, bed sheets and pillow is a big deal. You want to be comfortable and get a good night’s sleep. Your body needs to be supported in order for you to get deep REM sleep. That means no tossing and turning all night long!
Here’s how:
- Choose a firm mattress that fits your body type. If you are heavier or taller than average, consider buying an extra-firm mattress (or perhaps even two). A softer one might not provide enough support for heavier people — causing pain in their backs as well as poor quality of sleep overall. For those who need more support but enjoy a softer feel, a medium-firm pillow top mattress is a great compromise.
- If possible try out different brands before purchasing one online or from another retailer because each brand has its own unique feel which may not suit everyone equally well depending on personal preferences regarding softness vs firmness levels within each category. Elderly adults may choose something more cushioned while young children prefer something less plush.
It’s not easy to get the right amount of rest
As you’re about to learn, sleep is a complex process that involves several stages. It’s also important to understand what affects your sleep quality and how you can improve it.
It’s important to get proper sleep and how to improve your quality of rest. If you’ve been struggling with insomnia or other sleep issues, talk with your doctor about possible solutions.