I just don’t get how some people can sleep straight through the night. If I go to bed at 11pm, I usually end up waking up sometime around 3 or 4 am. It’s rare for me to make it to 6 or 7 without waking up at least once. So, for anyone who sleeps all 8 hours without interruption… how do you do it?
Honestly, I think we all wake up, but most people just fall back asleep.
Zion said:
Honestly, I think we all wake up, but most people just fall back asleep.
This is probably the case. I think a lot of people wake up but just don’t remember it. If you tend to get stressed after waking up, it might make you stay awake longer.
Or maybe it’s a sign of sleep apnea.
@Gray
Or you might just be drinking a lot of water or soda right before bed.
It’s totally normal to wake up a few times during the night, and most people just don’t remember it. I’ve worked with sleep studies for over a decade, and it’s rare for anyone to actually sleep 8 hours without any wake-ups. If you’re curious, check out sleep cycles and hypnograms to see how it typically works over the night.
@Zander
Do you think Fitbits are accurate for tracking sleep like this?
Zaden said:
@Zander
Do you think Fitbits are accurate for tracking sleep like this?
From my experience, Fitbits do a decent job, especially when it comes to spotting changes in your sleep pattern. Just check your weekly data and see if anything stands out.
@Zander
That sounds pretty extreme. Are you saying no one ever sleeps straight through?
Different people have different sleep needs. Some people only need 6-7 hours. My psychologist, who focuses on sleep, told me she’s good with just 6 hours.
Shan said:
Different people have different sleep needs. Some people only need 6-7 hours. My psychologist, who focuses on sleep, told me she’s good with just 6 hours.
I’m one of those! I tried forcing myself to get a full 8 hours but ended up with migraines and feeling horrible. Turns out, my ideal is around 6 and a half hours. Now I aim for 6 hours on work days and 7 on days off. If I sleep too much, it actually makes me feel worse.
@Penn
Wow, that’s really interesting! Thanks for sharing. Do you find that you still wake up multiple times in the night?
Shan said:
@Penn
Wow, that’s really interesting! Thanks for sharing. Do you find that you still wake up multiple times in the night?
Yes, and they told me it’s pretty normal for most people, especially with all the little stresses we carry around. Ever have random thoughts pop up like ‘Where did I put my passport?’ even if you don’t need it? They said it’s similar with sleep – these thoughts just come back to us, even at night.
@Penn
That makes so much sense! Thanks again for explaining!
I wake up a few times just to roll over but usually fall right back asleep. I honestly can’t remember the last time I slept straight through the night… probably when I was a teenager!
Penn said:
I wake up a few times just to roll over but usually fall right back asleep. I honestly can’t remember the last time I slept straight through the night… probably when I was a teenager!
I’m only 16 and still can’t sleep more than 6 hours at a time.
Penn said:
I wake up a few times just to roll over but usually fall right back asleep. I honestly can’t remember the last time I slept straight through the night… probably when I was a teenager!
Try taking Benadryl at night, it might help you get longer sleep.
People who sleep long and hard without waking up are probably toddlers or teenagers!
I used to wake up constantly after just a few hours. I started trying out some sleep hypnosis videos on YouTube, and they’ve actually helped a lot. The channel I used was Progressive Hypnosis, in case anyone else wants to give it a shot!
I follow a ‘3-2-1’ method along with regular exercise, and it’s helped me get pretty solid 8-hour sleeps. Basically: No eating 3 hours before bed, no drinking 2 hours before, and no screens 1 hour before. I’ve found that combining this with daily exercise really works.
What’s worked for me is having a regular sleep routine.