5 Sleep Myths Debunked

Get a better night’s rest by following these tips.

Guest post provided by Bryden McGrath. See below for more information about this author.

The importance of sleep is often overlooked – whether you’re a college student or you work in professions in which you must devote odd hours to.

Because of this, there are several sleep myths out there that people actually believe.

But the truth is, many of them just don’t add up. Keep reading and let us debunk five sleep myths for you.

Alcohol is good for sleep

How about a glass of wine to wind down before bed?

Not so fast. You shouldn’t drink within three hours of bedtime, because while drinking may help you fall asleep faster, it increases the number of times you’ll wake up in the middle of the night.

Sleeping in makes up for lost sleep

So you missed a few hours of sleep the other night. No problem — just sleep a few more hours buried under your down comforter on the weekend!

Unfortunately, sleeping in is only going to mess up your sleeping patterns. Instead, focus on getting those 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night and stick with it. If one night goes awry, don’t sweat it – just get back on schedule. Even on the weekends.

Sex will keep you awake afterwards

Have you ever avoided having sex because you thought it would keep you up all night afterwards?

That actually isn’t the case. Sex is good for getting to sleep. Here’s why: Sex releases endorphins that “make you feel good about yourself,” relieving stress and thus making it easier for you to fall asleep when your head hits that pillow.

There’s nothing wrong with snoring

Sometimes there really is nothing wrong with snoring.

But other times, it could mean you have sleep apnea, which is more serious than many people think. Sleep apnea is a disorder that interrupts your breathing while you sleep.

Of course, this can impact your sleeping habits, but it can also lead to low blood oxygen levels. Side effects of sleep apnea can lead to dangerous medical conditions, such as heart disease.

Watching TV or your iPad will put you to sleep

Nope.

The screens emit a blueish light, mimicking daylight thanks to the suppression of melatonin. Not good.

Your brain is then sort of tricked into thinking it’s daytime and that you should be awake. If you absolutely must read or watch a movie on your TV or iPad or other electronic device before falling asleep, keep the brightness of the screen low.

About the Author:
This post was written by Bryden McGrath, a freelance journalist, photographer, and recent college graduate from Seattle.