Sleep

Sleep—we all need it and it accounts for a third of our entire lives. But how much sleep is ideal, and how, with work, kids, and everything else going on in our lives, can we reach the goal? The short answer is that there is no magic number of hours of sleep that is optimal for everyone. Most studies say that between eight and nine hours of sleep is considered the optimal amount for us to wake up feeling completely restored and rejuvenated, but many people can function on three to five hours, and some people need at least 10.

Generally speaking, if you find that you are drowsy throughout the day and are falling asleep immediately after lying down, you are probably sleep deprived. So what if those coveted eight hours just aren’t attainable in your busy life? Not to worry, if you can master the power nap you might be able to ensure you’ve got the rest you need to get you through your schedule.

Sleep is categorized in four stages, ranging from the very light to the very deep. Stages I and II are just when you’re heading to the land of nod, you’re easily awakened, and your muscles are just starting to relax. As you drift into stages III and IV your brain starts to take over as both your eye and muscle movement ceases, making it pretty difficult for anyone to awaken you.

Mastering the power nap means that you don’t reach these latter stages, preventing you from awaking groggy and disoriented. The optimal time for this is usually between 20 and 30 minutes. Any longer and you can actually wake up feeling more tired than before. It’s a delicate art, but if you’re finding that you’re continually sleep deprived, naps are a great option to keep your alertness up and your stress level down.

We often brush off the importance of sleep, but it is essential for both our bodies and minds to function normally, especially when we’re dieting. Sleep helps us manage stress and improves our metabolism, and, as an added bonus, sleep is integral to strengthening our immune system, which fights off disease and helps us to get well quicker when we’re sick. So try to sneak in a few extra hours of sleep each night or even a power nap—your body will thank you, and so will your waistline!