Sleep is one of those things you want more of the older you get. When we were kids, we were desperate for our bedtime to be pushed back and had to be cheated into thinking it was later than it was. Now, we don't want to wake up, need 15 alarms on (minimum) and would nap all day long if we got the chance.
Despite all of that, at one stage or another many of us will be hit with insomnia or general issues impacting our regular shut eye. The problems might be how easy it is to get to sleep, how long we can stay asleep for or what the best position to have a decent snooze is.
When it comes to how much sleep we should be getting each night, you may have heard about the typical seven to eight hours. In actual fact, every single person is completely different.
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Sleep expert Neil Stanley, author of How To Sleep Well (so he probably knows his s***), explained: "Individual sleep need is like height - we are all different and it is to a large degree genetically determined.
"Anywhere between about four and eleven hours can be considered normal, but getting just one hour less sleep a night than you require can have measurable effects on your physical and mental health."
Can someone please explain how it's possible to find the time for 11 hours sleep, please?
Metro also reported that the older we get the less sleep we need. Who ever says that has clearly never been into a nursing home.
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When it comes to getting to sleep, we can try many different tricks: counting sheep, drinking chamomile tea, reading a book etc etc...
But actually just lying in a quiet, dark room with the fewest distractions possible is the most ideal condition. Also having a set, technology-free routine will also work wonders so you can pack away your phone, laptop or any other device for the evening.
Neil suggests using sleeping apps as well but recommends visiting your GP is you have tried some of these and they aren't working.
We all have our favourite positions to sleep in and, again, it's something that is unique to us all. The most common for adults is the foetal position with 41 percent snoozing this way.
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But Neil says that sleeping on your back is the 'ideal position' because it can reduce pressure on muscles and joints, as long as you don't have sleep apnoea or snoring issues, as reported by the Mirror.
There you have it, let's all try and have the best sleep of our lives tonight. Tuck your phone away and steer clear of the coffee.
Featured Image Credit: Columbia PicturesTopics: News, Interesting, Sleep