Staying in the Cycle for Great Sleep - Bedzzz Express

The reason we need to sleep for so long (30% of our time on the planet) is because we have to catch the REM train and it only comes every 70-120 minutes. We actually need certain amounts of each of four types of sleep, but since REM is usually last up, we are often at a deficit.

Sleep Patterns

To make a boring story short, we have two kinds of sleep, Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and slow wave (Non-REM) sleep. They are differentiated by our level of alertness. REM is a more active and alert state than NREM. While NREM is exhibits progressively longer and higher voltage brain waves (like a deep meditation on nothingness), REM sleep is an intense staccato pattern. We dream during REM sleep and the mind paralyzes the body, ostensibly so that we don't injure or wake ourselves.

We need both kinds of sleep. Babies jump into deep NREM sleep more often than older kids. Teenagers get a lot of REM sleep. Adults spend more time in stage 2 NREM. When left to our natural ways, we get what we need. But we are not left to our natural ways.

REM sleep accounts for around 20 percent of total sleep in healthy adults. If you wake up once every hour for your six-hour go-getter slumber, you may be starving yourself of this restorative state.

Familiarity Breeds Contempt. . . for Mattresses

Is your mattress coming up on the five-year mark? Most of us sleep in the same spot, in the same position, every night. Overtime, the mattress conforms to our body--this is bad. As a mattress retains your sleeping shape it also increases pressure points. This makes us roll over at night, wake up, and start the sleep cycle from scratch each time. The best mattress for longevity depends on your sleeping style and preferences. There is no substitute for testing your mattress--the experts at Bedzzz Express know that choosing a mattress takes time and repetition. Further, we offer a 90-day sound sleep guarantee as well as a 90-day low price guarantee to make sure you choose the best mattress for you.

Make Predictable Sounds

Unpredictable sounds can jar us from sleep as well. Many enjoy white noise apps, which have become very realistic, to drown out inconsistent sounds. If you live in a metro area where the trash is picked up at 3 a.m. or college kids carouse late at night, maybe some earplugs are the answer.

Lack of quality sleep is the reason that many feel constant fatigue despite what seems like a normal amount of hours spent in bed. Do what you can to catch the REM train.