You’re Doing It Wrong: 4 Sleep Myths

In the spirit of Sleep Awareness Week, we’ve busted open some of the biggest bedtime misconceptions so you can catch more Z’s this March.

Myth 1: More sleep is always better

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The Truth: It turns out, as an adult you don’t need more than 8 hours of sleep a night. Sleeping longer on a regular basis has actually been linked to a higher risk of stroke later in life, so make the most of those late nights!

Myth 2: The older you get, the less sleep you need

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The Truth: This really only applies after you leave your teens. While older people generally do sleep less soundly through the night, this is usually due to other health issues associated with aging. You should get the same amount of sleep at 70 as you got at 30… you still need it.

Myth 3: Slept poorly last night? Don’t worry, you can play catch up later

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The Truth: Our bodies aren’t batteries. According to a recent Harvard study, if you’re consistently getting even just 2 hours less sleep a night than you need, spending the whole next day sleeping in won’t even begin to make up for what you lost. The damage has already been done! You’d be better off making the most of the day and getting a full night’s rest.

Myth 4: Can’t sleep all the way through the night? There’s something wrong

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The Truth: Before electricity or even lamps were a thing, people went to bed shortly after the sun set. That whole time, people woke up in the middle of the night, but they didn’t freak out.Instead, they’d get up for a few hours or so and…get stuff done before returning to bed. And that’s totally normal, that relaxation period helps to regulate stress. In fact, staying in bed and counting sheep keeps you up longer.