These sleep myths are making you tired

With so many of us having access to the internet, you are bound to have come across some misinformation. And then there are those age-old myths that you believe simply because they have been passed down from one generation to the next. There are many myths relating to sleep and you might have fallen victim to a few of them.

There are many people suffering from sleeping problems. And suffering from less than your share of sleep can end up making you feel worse about just about anything. Not only are you going to be less productive at work, but your mood will also take a knock, affecting your family life and relationships. Sometimes your sleep can be easily fixed by just buying a brand new mattress that is perfectly suited for your body, and you can find these mattresses at The Mattress Warehouse. Other times, it is time to take a look at your life and at your sleeping habits to see where the problem might be.

Sleep myths might be depriving you of sleep

Myth number 1: Everyone sleeps less these days!

No, no they don’t. There is a dangerous trend, especially among the young up and comers, that sleeping less is not only better for you but that it is also something that you need to do in order to become more successful in your life. This is not a trend that you should be following. The recommended amount of sleep is still between 6 and 8 hours. Although we are all likely to vary when it comes to the amount of sleep we need, sleeping less than your perfect number is going to leave you feeling tired.

If you have been sucked into this trap, it is best to start working on a sleeping pattern that will sort out your sleep. You can stick to this pattern by setting an alarm and being sure to wake up and go to sleep at the same time each day. That includes weekends.

Myth number 2: Napping will make you more tired

Not necessarily. That is if you nap smart. By napping smart we mean limiting the amount of time that you nap to no more than 20 minutes. This is the proven amount of time that is needed to leave a person feeling refreshed and more awake. Napping more than this will leave you groggy as your brain will have entered the next sleep cycle. The problem comes in when people decide to nap for hours at a time, even when they are sleeping well enough at night. It is also good to know that should you not be sleeping well at night, then catching up during the weekend won’t do drastic harm.

If you want to try power napping, it is sometimes best to sleep in a chair or on a couch. This should prevent you from wanting to sleep longer.

Myth number 3: Exercising just before bed is not good

Well not for everyone. While avoiding exercise just before bed is on many sleep tip list, for many people rigorous exercise before bed can actually work wonders for their sleep.  For those of us who are working long hours, sometimes the only time that we get to exercise is just before we hit the pillow. While there is not all that much research out there relating to exercising just before bed, those who speak from experience often say that it enhances their sleep quality.

The only way that you are going to know if exercise will badly affect your sleep is by experimenting. Try exercising earlier in the evening and then try doing it before bed. Then make notes about the differences in your sleep.

Myth number 4: Everyone nods off during the day

Sorry, not everyone does. There is plenty of research available which highlights the fact that our energy levels are sure to take a dip by mid-afternoon. But if that dip is so drastic that you find yourself nodding off at work, then you are in need of more sleep. This tiredness is likely to be the result of many nights restless sleep and it is something that you need to see to. Losing sleep consistently can lead to many health problems and leave you unable to properly function during your waking hours.

Should you only occasionally suffer a night of bad sleep then one good night should fix the tiredness. But if you are consistently sleeping badly, you might need to consult with a professional to uncover and correct the issue.

Myth number 5: If you have insomnia you should get to bed earlier

Absolutely not! In fact, going to bed earlier might just make your insomnia a whole lot worse. The longer you go without sleep, the more your body will eventually crave rest. If you go to bed earlier, you will be forcing sleep long before your body actually wants to which can make things worse for your insomnia. Rather than trying to compensate for your lack of sleep at night by filling up on naps and earlier bed times, powering through might sometimes prove to be the better option.

If you are suffering from a bout of insomnia the cure might lie in going to bed around an hour later than usual, when your body is really craving rest. Relax your brain before you sleep by reading or doing some yoga and meditation. Calming your mind will help to prepare you for sleep. Another thing that you can do is exercise about half an hour before bed.

Modern living is enough to make most of us feel as though we are not getting enough rest. And trying to live a productive life when you are always tried can be impossible. Forget about the myths that could be contributing to your lack of sleep and start building up a healthier sleeping pattern. You might also want to have a look at the mattress you are sleeping on. While it is not necessarily the mattress that is contributing to your tiredness, it could have an influence.

If you are looking for a new bed, why not simplify the way that you look for a mattress by shopping online using our online store?