I’m a sleep expert – this is why falling asleep within 5 minutes is a ‘bad sign’
I’m a sleep expert – that’s why falling asleep in 5 minutes is a ‘bad sign’
- Dr. Sophie Bostock, called The Sleep Scientist, received her PhD from UCL
- Falling asleep in less than five minutes indicates you’re sleep deprived, she said
- Instead, the secret to satisfying sleep lies in falling asleep in less than 20 minutes
We all feel better after a good night’s sleep, but getting one isn’t always easy.
And falling asleep too quickly can also be a “bad sign,” according to a sleep expert.
Falling asleep in less than five minutes indicates you’re likely sleep deprived, warned Dr Sophie Bostock, aka The Sleep Scientist.
Lasting more than half an hour can also be alarming.
Speaking on the Her Spirit podcast hosted by former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Michin, Dr Bostock revealed that you’re also more likely to make bad decisions when you’re tired, which can further harm your sleep patterns.
Speaking on the Her Spirit podcast hosted by former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Michin, Dr Sophie Bostock said falling asleep in less than five minutes indicates you’re likely sleep deprived
While adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep, children are advised to sleep between nine and 13 hours, the NHS advises.
The health service estimates that it takes most people an average of 14 minutes to fall asleep.
Speaking on the podcast episode, released today, Dr Bostock said: ‘If you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, it is very often a sign of sleep deprivation.
“If you fall asleep within five minutes of getting into bed, chances are you could probably benefit from a little more sleep.
“So when you’re sitting next to someone like that, you actually feel a little smug, maybe they’re a little sleep deprived.”
Dr. Bostock, who holds a PhD in health psychology from University College London and has appeared on shows like This Morning to talk about sleep science, revealed that the secret to satisfying sleep lies in falling asleep in less than 20 minutes.
But being tired can just lead to more fatigue and become a cycle we need to break.
She told the podcast, “Anything from 15 to 20 minutes to fall asleep is very normal, but if it regularly takes more than half an hour, you may want to look at your sleeping habits.”
She added, “When we’re tired, we’re very prone to sleep deferral, so try to make the decisions about sleep when you’re not tired.”
“The problem comes when we’re already tired and we can’t be bothered to stop.
“That’s why Netflix automatically plays the next episode.”
Dr. Bostock recommended that the best way to improve your sleep patterns is to only go to bed when you feel really tired.
She said, ‘Don’t go to bed until you’re sleepy tired.
“If you feel your eyelids getting heavy, maybe a little itchy, that’s a sign that your body is ready for bed.
“We want to develop a positive mental association between our beds and sleep.”