Snooze all night, feel energized in the A.M.? Not necessarily. There’s little link between quantity of sleep and fatigue, says new research from Stockholm University.
After tracking the resting patterns of nearly 6,000 people (and energy levels the next day), the scientists found that the mere amount of shuteye didn’t determine how alert or groggy people reported feeling.
Why? “Sleep needs are very individual,” says Michael Breus, Ph.D., and author of The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan: Lose Weight through Better Sleep. “They’re based on genetics, age, medical conditions, environment, and whether you’re a night owl or an early bird.” Quality is also crucial—5 hours of non-interrupted slumber is better than 8 hours of of tossing and turning, he says.
One of the best ways to determine how much sleep you need is to track your snooze-time during a vacation (when you can wake up without an alarm clock). Write down how many hours you clock each night. Over the course of about 5 days, you’ll likely develop a pattern that signals the amount of rest you naturally need.
Then, to get the best sleep possible, try what Dr. Breus dubs “Power Down Hour”: An hour before bed, take 20 minutes for things that must get done; 20 minutes for showering, brushing your teeth, and reading; and 20 minutes for activities you can do in the dark like meditation or relaxation.
If you liked this story, you’ll love these:
Powered by WPeMatico
No comments:
Post a Comment