sleeping advice

Did you know that sleeping habits can vary? That’s right, with over 7 billion people around the world, not everyone sleeps the same. There are several factors that can affect how a person sleeps, from where they live, to their busy schedules and even specific health conditions they may have. Everyone knows falling asleep is no easy feat, so it’s understandable if some people find it more difficult than others.

So how do you go about discovering what type of sleeping habit you have? And how can you possibly remedy it in line with your lifestyle? If you don’t have the time and means to consult a medical expert… there’s always the internet.

In recent years, the medical industry has discovered the value of the internet as a new means to treat their patients. Doctors and nurses have shared all that they know about sleeping with various medical websites and health forums. A treasure trove of information is now at our fingertips. A few clicks and you can have all your questions on sleep answered. Below is just some of the information and answers from the most reliable sleep and health websites you will discover when you check your sleep habits online.


Sleeping Habits In Different Parts of The World

Different cultures across the globe require different sleeping habits. Time Zones and climates play a huge part in how people sleep. Mutesnoring shares on their website different surveys and studies that support the idea of diverse sleeping habits around the world.

According to their post, Australians wake up the earliest, with 12% already up before 5:00am. In contrast, the Japanese sleep much later, with 25% getting up at 1:00pm on weekends. A difference between Americans and British people can also be found in their reactions towards snoring. The studies showed that 22% of British people are annoyed by their partner’s snoring while 37% of Americans view it as comic relief.


Sleeping Patterns

Unbeknown to many, there are three distinct types of sleeping patterns. Sleep Habits shares that there are three common sleeping patterns: Monophasic, Biphasic, and Polyphasic. These patterns are based on two vital factors, how long a person is awake and the regular timing of your sleeping.

Monophasic sleeping is what most people consider the most normal of the three sleeping patterns. This pattern consists of having one 8-hour sleep per day. On the other hand, Biphasic sleeping consists of sleeping two times a day, one long rest at night and a quick nap in the middle of the day. This pattern is most common in Spain, Latin America, and other Spanish-colonised countries with their concept of “siesta,” a nap after lunch.

Finally, the most complex of the three sleeping patterns is Polyphasic sleeping. A person who has this pattern sleeps about 4-6 times a day. The pattern is classified into three degrees: Everyman, Uberman, and Dymaxion. Everyman consists of a core sleep that is longer than other naps, while Uberman makes use of 6 naps a day taking 30 minutes or less for each. Comparatively, Dymaxion consists of taking a 30-minute nap every 6 hours per day.


Tips to Fall Asleep Better

Leesa lists down 25 tips you can follow to fall asleep faster and avoid insomnia. A number of important tidbits make up the list, from changing your diet, fixing your schedules, and even how you decorate your bedroom to fit your own sleeping habits. Some of their tips even require physical and mental exercises to relax your brain, making it easier for you to fall asleep.


Sleep Hygiene

Sleep Education defines Sleep Hygiene as a series of healthy sleep habits that can improve your ability to fall asleep. They state that Sleep Hygiene is a vital part of Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), one of the most effective treatments in curing insomnia. Proper Sleep Hygiene counters the various thoughts and behaviours you have that prevent your from falling asleep faster.

Sleep Education also lists down a few tips to perfect your Sleep Hygiene. A lot of their tips consist of activities that can be achieved in the bedroom, such as keeping a consistent sleeping schedule and limiting activities in bed to just sleeping. Diet changes are also heavily advised like avoiding coffee and alcohol and consuming more water and milk.