An unbroken night’s sleep is a myth. Here’s what good sleep looks like

What is a Good Night’s Sleep?

What do you imagine a good night’s sleep to be? Often when people come into our sleep clinic seeking treatment, they share ideas about healthy sleep. Many think that when their head hits the pillow, they should fall into a deep and restorative sleep, and emerge after about eight hours feeling refreshed. They’re in good company – many Australians hold the same belief.

In reality, healthy sleep is cyclic across the night, as you move in and out of the different stages of sleep, often waking up several times. Some people remember one or more of these awakenings, others do not. Let’s consider what a healthy night’s sleep looks like.

Sleep Cycles: A Roller-Coaster

As an adult, our sleep moves through different cycles and brief awakenings during the night. Sleep cycles last roughly 90 minutes each. We typically start the night with lighter sleep, before moving into deeper sleep stages, and rising again into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – the stage of sleep often linked to vivid dreaming.

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If sleeping well, we get most of our deep sleep in the first half of the night, with REM sleep more common in the second half of the night. Adults usually move through five or six sleep cycles in a night, and it is entirely normal to wake up briefly at the end of each one. That means we might be waking up five times during the night. This can increase with older age and still be healthy. If you’re not remembering these awakenings that’s OK – they can be quite brief.

What Does Getting a ‘Good’ Sleep Actually Mean?

You’ll often hear that adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. But good sleep is about more than the number of hours – it’s also about the quality. For most people, sleeping well means being able to fall asleep soon after getting into bed (within around 30 minutes), sleeping without waking up for long periods, and waking feeling rested and ready for the day.

You shouldn’t be feeling excessively sleepy during the day, especially if you’re regularly getting at least seven hours of refreshing sleep a night (this is a rough rule of thumb). But are you noticing you’re feeling physically tired, needing to nap regularly and still not feeling refreshed? It may be worthwhile touching base with your general practitioner, as there a range of possible reasons.

Common Issues

Sleep disorders are common. Up to 25% of adults have insomnia, a sleep disorder where it may be hard to fall or stay asleep, or you may wake earlier in the morning than you’d like. Rates of common sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnoea – where your breathing can partially or completely stop many times during the night – also increase with age, affecting 20% of early adults and 40% of people in middle age. There are effective treatments, so asking for help is important.

Beyond sleep disorders, our sleep can also be disrupted by chronic health conditions – such as pain – and by certain medications. There can also be other reasons we’re not sleeping well. Some of us are woken by children, pets or traffic noise during the night. These “forced awakenings” mean we may find it harder to get up in the morning, take longer to leave bed and feel less satisfied with our sleep. For some people, night awakenings may have no clear cause.

Can Your Smart Watch Help?

It is important to remember sleep-tracking devices can vary in accuracy for looking at the different sleep stages. While they can give a rough estimate, they are not a perfect measure. In-laboratory polysomnography, or PSG, is the best standard measure to examine your sleep stages. A PSG examines breathing, oxygen saturation, brain waves and heart rate during sleep.

Rather than closely examining nightly data (including sleep stages) from a sleep tracker, it may be more helpful to look at the patterns of your sleep (bed and wake times) over time. Understanding your sleep patterns may help identify and adjust behaviors that negatively impact your sleep, such as your bedtime routine and sleeping environment.

Conclusion

An unbroken night’s sleep is a myth. Good sleep is not about the number of hours you sleep, but about the quality of your sleep. It’s about being able to fall asleep quickly, sleeping without waking up for long periods, and waking feeling rested and ready for the day. Common issues that can disrupt good sleep include sleep disorders, chronic health conditions, and certain medications. If you’re struggling to get good sleep, it may be worthwhile speaking with your general practitioner or a sleep psychologist.

FAQs

Q: How many hours of sleep do I need each night?
A: The amount of sleep you need can vary from person to person, but most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night.

Q: What does it mean to have good sleep?
A: Good sleep is not just about the number of hours you sleep, but also about the quality of your sleep. It’s about being able to fall asleep quickly, sleeping without waking up for long periods, and waking feeling rested and ready for the day.

Q: What are common issues that can disrupt good sleep?
A: Common issues that can disrupt good sleep include sleep disorders, chronic health conditions, and certain medications.

Q: How can I improve my sleep?
A: Improving your sleep can involve a range of strategies, including establishing a consistent bedtime routine, creating a sleep-conducive environment, and avoiding stimulating activities before bedtime.

Q: Can I use a smart watch to track my sleep?
A: While smart watches can provide some information about your sleep, they are not a perfect measure. For a more accurate picture of your sleep, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional or use in-laboratory polysomnography.