Sleep is not a luxury – it’s a necessity. According to medical research, the average adult requires 7 to 9 hours sleep for the body and mind to rest properly. Even though we know that nine times out of ten, such a beautiful sleep schedule is far from the true reality, the importance of deep sleep can still never be denied. Note that we say “deep sleep” and not just “sleep”. In today’s post we’ve carefully explained the difference between the two, as well as the importance of deep sleep and how you can properly get it.
What Is Deep Sleep?
Before you can understand the meaning of deep sleep, it’s a good idea to learn the basic types of sleep first. There are mainly two types: REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. We start off with non-REM sleep and then gradually drift into REM sleep. The cycle repeats itself throughout the night every 90 minutes. The last cycle of non-REM sleep is known as deep sleep.
Benefits of Deep Sleep
The benefits of deep sleep are virtually endless. For example, one of the biggest advantages of it is the increase in glucose metabolism in the brain. This reaction occurs greatly during deep sleep and improves your brain’s long-term and short term memory, as well as overall learning. Moreover, important hormones that lead to growth and development of the body are synthesized during periods of deep sleep by the pituitary gland. While sleeping they help you to grow, they mean it literally – gaining enough deep sleep every night will help you grow.
Some of the other benefits of deep sleep are outlined below:
- It increases the supply of blood to your muscles, so that you are able to do more work with your body tiring less.
- Wounds and cuts are healed quickest during deep sleep, since hormones promote growth of the body and the formation of new cells.
- You will feel far fresher and more energized after a good night’s deep sleep. You won’t be tired all day the next morning.
- Finally, gaining deep sleep will also make sure you fall ill less. Your immune system will strengthen, thereby making you stronger.
How to Obtain Deep Sleep
If you wake up feeling tired on a regular basis, then this is definitely a sign of not getting enough deep sleep. Below we’ve put together some tried and tested ways through which you can solve the problem and wake up feeling thoroughly refreshed.
- Stimulate your body in warmth before you go to bed. Taking a hot bath, or spending a few minutes in a sauna can help improve your sleep quality.
- Maintain regularity in the time you go to sleep each night. It’s difficult for our bodies to relax after staying up late at night and also to fall asleep earlier than we usually do.
- Tire yourself out during the day. Work, exercise, go outside, eat well, basically just have a really active day. The more tired you are, the faster you will be able to fall asleep and the deeper your sleep will be.
- Turn off bright lights and remove loud noises from your bedroom before bedtime. Even the sound of a dripping tap can turn into one of the most irritating sounds in the world and rob you of your sleep. Get up and turn the tap off.
- Fluffy pillows and beautifully clean bedding can put pretty much anyone to rest.
- If you’re not sleepy during bedtime, consider reading few pages from a book. Light reading can become an enjoyable bedtime activity and will also help you sleep better.
Deep sleep is the time of night when both your body and mind are healing together. It helps to strengthen you and getting enough of it will show visible signs of an improved health. In today’s post we’ve outlined some of the many benefits related to deep sleeping and also suggested ways in which you can gain deep sleep. Remember however, that if you’re regularly facing sleep problems which are not being cured by the traditional methods, it’s always wise to consult a doctor.