When did we become so obsessed and anxious about sleep? I’ve struggled with sleep my whole life but have many people around me who sleep fine without thinking about it. Is it because of social media? The medications on the market? Sleep constantly being pushed as something to improve? Trying to meet standards of getting 8-9 hours of rest? Thankfully, I’ve cured my insomnia but sometimes, even after a bad night of sleep, I still get really anxious about it. It’s simple, right? We wake up, live our life, and go to sleep. Sleep is a biological need but we’ve made it so complicated and I can’t figure out why. I’ve done this myself too, but sometimes it feels so ridiculous.
I think your perception of sleep being an obsession might have changed because of your own sleep issues. Most people don’t really care about sleep that much.
Sawyer said:
I think your perception of sleep being an obsession might have changed because of your own sleep issues. Most people don’t really care about sleep that much.
Most people really don’t think about it or care.
@Thorn
It makes me so envious that they don’t have to worry about it.
Society became obsessed with overworking, over-scheduling, and living in unhealthy environments like toxic light and bad nutrition. These things contributed to the sleep crisis. People in tribes live by the sun, spend their energy hunting and gathering during the day, and sleep easily at night. They only work 30 hours a week but here, most people work 60 hours or more. The basic needs are more complicated today. We rely on money, which complicates things even more, and most people don’t have survival skills like hunting or building shelter.
@Linden
This!!! Sleep problems start early because of school, I think. I’m 22 and still in school. I get 4-6 hours of sleep a night and it’s draining. But I have to finish school.
No, people sleep badly because they don’t get enough sunlight, see too much artificial light, and don’t get enough physical activity during the day.
I haven’t slept well since I was a kid. I don’t think it had anything to do with outside influences back then. I’m pretty sure it’s because I’m a night owl, like my brother and dad, so fitting into a 9:30 pm to 5:30 am schedule is hard. I think part of the issue is now it’s easier to find others with the same problem thanks to the internet.
For me, it was when I got tired of being tired.
So many people I know only get about 6 hours of sleep every night. I work in a high school and I doubt the teachers in my section get enough sleep. They work the busiest days I’m glad I don’t. Sleep deprivation is a silent killer. It’s scary when experts say you’re boosting your risk for cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline without even realizing it.
Please understand that sleep is a biological process that varies for each person. The emphasis on achieving 8-9 hours of ‘perfect sleep’ creates unrealistic expectations and makes people feel like failures if they don’t meet it. You’ve fallen victim to the hyper-marketing around sleep. Social media, marketing campaigns, and wellness trends bombard people with advice and products, fueling anxiety. Your awareness of sleep might make you fear sleep deprivation. It’s okay to have bad sleep sometimes. Focus on your daytime habits and trust your body’s internal clock. Don’t stress over bad sleep. Practice self-compassion. Sleep is not something to control.
@Aspen
I don’t know why you got downvoted, this is spot on. Especially the 8-9 hours thing, not everyone needs that much.
@Aspen
Yes, this is what helped me get rid of my insomnia. Letting go of control and just letting things be. It helped me in all aspects of my life! Focusing on sleep only created more fear and prevented me from sleeping.
When I try really hard to sleep, I can’t sleep. This feels like a similar situation.
Brenner said:
When I try really hard to sleep, I can’t sleep. This feels like a similar situation.
Always! If I stress about it or try to force myself to sleep, it never works.
I think a big part of it is blue light from phones and always thinking about conversations. We shouldn’t have all this information at our fingertips. It overwhelms our brains more than we realize.
Yeah, I only really sleep when I have to. I enjoy being awake and conscious. I also like being up at night when it’s quieter.
I asked a similar question a while ago. Someone recommended Dr. Chris Winter’s YouTube videos. He also has a book. He’s not as famous as Matthew Walker but is more credible when it comes to sleep topics, in my opinion.
Sleep has become a big deal. There’s so much pressure to get the perfect amount of sleep, and it seems like the more we try, the harder it gets. If you want to track your sleep without stressing over it, Healify AI might be a good option. It’s simple and doesn’t overwhelm you with information.
I feel this.