It’s wild how just one extra hour, or even just 30 minutes, can completely change how I feel the next day. With 7.5 hours of sleep, I’m basically a zombie, but with 8.5 hours, I don’t even need caffeine.
Getting that last REM cycle can be a game-changer, especially for someone who has trouble sleeping. But honestly, the difference can show up more in mood and perception than actual performance. Most people can manage with around 70% of the usual amount of sleep for short periods, but it’s not ideal.
@Gael
Really? I thought that only worked for one night of bad sleep. Like if you usually sleep well, then one night of only 3 hours won’t kill you. But two nights in a row, and it’s a disaster.
Shay said:
@Gael
Really? I thought that only worked for one night of bad sleep. Like if you usually sleep well, then one night of only 3 hours won’t kill you. But two nights in a row, and it’s a disaster.
No REM sleep for two nights, double trouble.
@Gael
If 8 hours is ideal, 70% is around 5.6 hours. I don’t think you could keep that up for long, or even for a few nights straight without feeling it.
Shay said:
@Gael
If 8 hours is ideal, 70% is around 5.6 hours. I don’t think you could keep that up for long, or even for a few nights straight without feeling it.
Trust me, as an insomniac, I can make it on 2-4 hours a night for weeks at a time.
I think it’s also about what stage of sleep you wake up in. Waking up during REM sleep can be really rough, but waking up from light sleep usually feels better.
Ray said:
I think it’s also about what stage of sleep you wake up in. Waking up during REM sleep can be really rough, but waking up from light sleep usually feels better.
I think that only affects you for a little while after waking up, though. It might feel terrible for a few hours, but I doubt it ruins the whole day. If your entire day is ruined, it’s probably just because you didn’t get enough sleep overall.
For me, that extra hour leaves me feeling groggy. 7 hours is my max for feeling good.
Zombie after 7.5? That sounds like solid sleep to me!
Clarke said:
Zombie after 7.5? That sounds like solid sleep to me!
Getting that last REM cycle is huge for people with sleep issues, which is probably why the extra hour made such a big difference for OP.
@Taylor
I don’t get what you mean about people with insomnia. If someone’s getting 7.5 hours, they’re not really an insomniac, are they? And if they are, then 7.5 hours should feel amazing.
@Taylor
How many REM cycles per night is normal? My Apple Watch says I only had two, totaling 55 minutes.
Haru said:
@Taylor
How many REM cycles per night is normal? My Apple Watch says I only had two, totaling 55 minutes.
What app shows that info?
Haru said:
@Taylor
How many REM cycles per night is normal? My Apple Watch says I only had two, totaling 55 minutes.
What app shows that info?
There’s a sleep app that breaks down your sleep into REM, deep, and core stages. Not sure how accurate it is, though.
@Haru
They’re kind of accurate if you’re comparing yourself day to day. It’s decent for tracking trends.
Haru said:
@Taylor
How many REM cycles per night is normal? My Apple Watch says I only had two, totaling 55 minutes.
Two cycles totaling 55 minutes? That doesn’t sound like a full cycle. I think a whole cycle takes about 90 minutes.
Haru said:
@Taylor
How many REM cycles per night is normal? My Apple Watch says I only had two, totaling 55 minutes.
Yeah, a full cycle is 90-120 minutes, and most people get 4-5 cycles a night if they sleep around 8 hours.
Haru said:
@Taylor
How many REM cycles per night is normal? My Apple Watch says I only had two, totaling 55 minutes.
Oh, I get it—you mean just the REM part. REM cycles get longer throughout the night, so the last one can be close to an hour.
Clarke said:
Zombie after 7.5? That sounds like solid sleep to me!
Same. I average 5-7 hours a night.