Counting Sheep Doesn’t Actually Work and Other Sleep Misconceptions
We’ve written extensively about sleep , from how lack of sleep can undermine your weight loss and productivity, to how too much sleep can be counterproductive . Nonetheless, misconceptions about sleep persist. This video from Mental Floss helps clarify some of them.
Have you ever been told to count sheep to sleep? I know I was, and it never helped me. What keeps me from concentrating properly on counting the sheep ends up being what keeps me awake: a brain that just can’t fucking shut up. Of course, Mental Floss explains that the best way to get yourself into a sweet dream is to actually imagine a relaxing scenario, like sitting on the beach sipping a cold drink and watching the sunset.
For the same reason, you don’t want to just lie in bed waiting for sleep. If it doesn’t, it’s best to get up and do something relaxing to feel sleepy again (hint: don’t check your Twitter or email ). What’s more, the video goes on to explain that even after you’ve finally sunk into the warm embrace of sleep, your brain is still fully active. Your body can rest, but your mind is still working as hard as when you are awake.
Other misconceptions: How your body adapts over time to less sleep (not really), and about nighttime exercise and its effect on sleep quality. Regarding the last point, I will argue that I usually have trouble falling asleep if I did heavy exercise a few hours before bed.
Sleep is very important, so check out our articles on how to sleep better and how to get rid of insomnia . And remember, although the standard recommendation is eight hours a day, the actual amount varies from person to person.
Misconceptions About Sleep | Mental thread