Common Sleep Myths Debunked

This and a lot of other factors contributed to a culture where misinformation about sleep is rife, and when people fall for this misinformation they end up harming themselves - even if these so-called hacks or solutions work in the short term. Keep reading as we try to debunk some of the myths people tell themselves when they sleep less and replace night-time quality sleep with naps in the office. 

1. Naps Can Substitute Sleeping at Night 

Naps can really help if you’re tired, but sleeping during the day doesn’t really do anything in the grand scheme of things other than put your sleep schedule off-kilter, and make it even harder for you to fall asleep when you need to.

If you want to take naps during the day, keep them short. Excessive napping is often a sign of other underlying issues like insomnia, and you might need to talk to a doctor if you keep feeling sleepy during the day. 

2. Your Sleep Position Isn’t That Important 

A lot of people don’t think twice about the position they’re sleeping in, but your sleep position is more important than you think. While sleeping on your back is helpful for spine alignment, sleeping on your side is the most beneficial and most popular position, linked with benefits like reduced joint and lower back pain. 

That said, a good quality mattress is important no matter what position you sleep in. And while sleeping on your front puts your neck in quite a tricky situation, even that can be fine if you use the right mattress. 

3. The More You Sleep the Better 

Yes, sleeping enough at night is a good thing, but sleeping too much isn’t great either. In fact, sleeping too much has been linked with a lot of issues like higher mortality rates in people who sleep more than normal. Experts recommend that adults get around seven to nine hours of sleep every night, and any more than that might have you feeling groggy all day. 

Even on an individual level, sleeping too much or taking long naps can make you feel foggy, slow down your thinking skills, and affect your creativity, even. 

4. Snoring is Normal 

Granted, light snoring is not a big issue, but excessive and loud snoring isn’t so innocent and harmless. This can be an indicator of a number of things, from Obstructive Sleep Apnea to any other kind of breathing disorder. 

And since snoring is often an indicator of a bigger underlying problem, you need to solve it like this too. 

5. You Get Used to Less Sleep

This is one of the most harmful sleep myths out there, as it encourages you to ignore your body’s wellbeing, and long-term sleep deprivation can harm your immune system, your heart, your metabolism, and a lot of other aspects of your health. 

Your body might be able to get used to the deprivation, but not feeling sleepy anymore when you’re not sleeping enough isn’t a sign that your body got used to it - it’s a sign that things are about to go wrong sooner rather than later.