Top Sleep Myths That We All Falsely Believe

We all know that getting enough sleep is important for our health and well-being, but do we actually understand why it’s so? If you think about it, there’s really not much to be afraid of when it comes to sleeping. In fact, sleep is probably the one activity that everyone can benefit from. If you’re tired all day long, why not just stay home and watch Netflix for eight hours straight?

The truth is, even though we’re told time and time again to get a good night’s rest every night, many of us still get plenty of sleep phobia. So here are some common misconceptions around getting enough sleep, which will hopefully help you feel more confident about your nighttime needs:

Myth 1: Getting Enough Sleep Is Impossible

There is a very simple way to get the amount of sleep you should - and I mean "should" - get. According to the Golden Rule, we should "Give your bed time's worth of attention." So we should aim to get a good night’s sleep every night.

Keep in mind, you don’t have to do this the old-fashioned way: lying in bed looking at the wall, thinking about what happened during the day, etc. You can actually get a more productive night’s sleep if you participate in activities until you’re very, very sleepy.

Myth 2: Getting Too Much Sleep Is Dangerous

Many of us have heard that getting too much sleep can be harmful, but what exactly does this mean? Too much sleep is not good for you in any way, shape, or form. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re likely not getting enough Zzz’s, which means you’re likely not “out,” which means you’re likely not as productive in the morning, which means you’re likely not as happy, and which means you’re likely not as healthy.

Many modern lifestyles are actually harmful when it comes to getting enough sleep: if you have to get up at 2 A.M. to attend a meeting, you’re probably not getting the sleep you need. Remember, you don’t have to sleep in – you can stay in bed as long as you need to get your Zzz’s.

Myth 3: Nighttime is the Time for Relaxing and Reflection

We always think about the negative aspects of getting too much sleep: being tired, not being able to think clearly, etc. But what many people don’t realize is that nighttime is also the perfect time to get some reflection done. Home alone? Not so bad!

Just flip on your laptop and watch Netflix until you’re very, very sleepy. Why not take some time every single day to just sit quietly and reflect on what’s happening in your life? You may notice that you’re much more productive when you focus on what you want to do rather than what you’re doing right now.

Myth 4: Going to Bed Too Late Is The Problem

As much as we want to believe the opposite, going to bed late is actually more harmful than getting more sleep than you need. First of all, lack of sleep in the evening can cause insomnia (which is the inability to fall asleep), which can in turn cause you to miss out on valuable Zzz’s. Nighttime is also when your body is at its most active, so if you’re not getting the few hours of sleep you need, you’re likely not in the best state of health either physically or mentally.