Always hitting snooze? Try this tip to work out your perfect bedtime

Virgin Radio

29 Mar 2022, 15:05

Some days it just feels like you haven't got enough sleep.

Even if you have a full eight hours, sometimes you just don't feel awake.

An expert has got tips to help you find the perfect amount of sleep for you.

Called Addison Jarman, she shared the simple science of what makes a perfect snooze.

She says we sleep in 90-minute cycles.

That's why, if your alarm wakes you up in the middle of one of those cycles it will be hard to get out of bed.

A full night's sleep can be ruined if you wake in the middle of a cycle.

Each sleep cycle features 65 minutes of normal, non-REM sleep, plus 20 minutes of REM sleep before the final 5 minutes of non-REM sleep.

This 90-minute cycle means that nine hours or seven-and-a-half hours would be easier to wake from.

The expert recommends counting backwards from when you need to wake up.

Count backwards in 90-minute slots, to figure out your ideal sleep cycle.

You might be surprise to find it's less about you wake up and more about when you go to sleep.

Commenters expressed their suprise: "Is that why when I get six hours I feel more rested than eight?"

Another laughed: "I'd rather wake up exhausted everyday of my life than count backwards in 90 minute blocks just once."

Someone queried: "Wait, people can decide when they go to sleep?!"

Would you give this a go?

Other tips include using cold to help you sleep, a bargain sleep tea, or making lettuce water.