Due to our increasingly busy lifestyles, sleep can often lose out to longer working hours, travel, and modern technologies. Before long, less sleep and not feeling our best can become the norm, and we can forget how fantastic a great night’s sleep makes us feel – emotionally, physically and mentally.

The benefits of a good night’s sleep

Sleep gives your body time for recuperation and repair. It also allows your brain to process the day’s events. This is important for your emotional state, and your ability to make decisions and react to situations. It’s also conducive for clear thinking, learning and memory. Getting too little sleep creates a "sleep debt", which must eventually be repaid.

What is good sleep?

You sleep in 90 minute cycles, featuring different stages of sleep depth. When you first fall asleep you will enter a light sleep (stage one). In this stage you can be easily woken and will feel like you haven’t been asleep. As your sleep continues, you’ll descend into a deeper sleep (stage two, three and four). It will take about 40 minutes after falling asleep to descend to stage four- the deepest part of your sleep cycle. It is very difficult to be woken from this stage and if you are, you will feel confused and groggy. After a time in this deep sleep, you will re-enter stage three, then two, then back to stage one.

How much sleep do I need?

It is generally considered that 6-8 hours of continual sleep is needed for most people. However, some people may need more or less than this amount.

The effects of a lack of sleep

Lack of sleep can affect our overall mood, energy levels and ability to cope with stress.