How to sleep well by understanding the sleep cycle - Part 2

What is a sleep cycle?

As mentioned above, each sleep cycle contains five distinct stages. You begin the sleep cycle with a period of non-REM sleep (deep sleep), which consists of four stages of sleep. After falling asleep for about 70 minutes, you enter REM sleep (dream sleep). One sleep cycle lasts an average of 90 minutes.

 

Then the sleep cycle starts over again. The cycle repeats throughout the night, with a multiple of 90 minutes.

The earlier sleep cycle has longer periods of NREM sleep, and shorter period of REM sleeps. Later in the night, NREM time decreases with REM time lengthens. Each time the cycle repeats, you will spend lesser time in NREM sleep, and more time dreaming in REM stage.

In other words, the REM sleep phases are shorter during earlier cycles (less than 20 minutes), and longer during the later cycles (more than 20 minutes). It will get quicker for you to reach stage 4 and REM sleep, as the cycle repeats.

In the period between cycles, we are not actually sleeping. It is a sort of twilight zone. In other words, if we are not disturbed by light, cold, a full bladder, or noise, we will move into the next 90-minute cycle. The stages of REM and non-REM sleep form a complete sleep cycle that repeats until you wake up. The sleep cycle repeats about four to five times per night. Additionally, it may repeat as many as seven times.

We would wake up after 4.5 hours, 6 hours, 7.5 hours, or 9 hours of sleep, if we sleep completely naturally, with no alarm clocks or other sleep disturbances. It is not after 7 or 8 hours, because it is not the multiples of 90 minutes. 

If you sleep only 6 hours (4 cycles), you will feel more rested than someone who has slept for 8 hours or 10 hours. It is because he or she was awakened before the sleep cycle was completed.

Note that even one complete cycle could be refreshing. In other words, afternoon napping could be more refreshing than waking in the middle of a cycle during the large blocks of sleep.

So, how much sleep do I need?  4.5 hours? 6 hours? 7.5 hours? 9 hours?

Sleep needs vary from person to person. Some need only 4.5 hours per night, but others seem to need 9 hours. The only expert who can judge the amount of sleep you need is you. For example, you sleep 6 hours per night, but you still encounter some signs or symptoms of  sleep deprivation. Then you should increase your sleeping time with complete sleep cycles.

Besides, having a complete knowledge of how-to sleep well, sleep pattern and sleep disorder, arranging your bedroom and having your bedroom layout designed to appropriate Feng Shui principles will help you to achieve restful sleep and overcome your sleeping problems for a healthier life.

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese wisdom handed down by the ancestors of the Chinese. It is a living skill in use by the Chinese emperors for many centuries. In those days the practice of Feng Shui by commoners were forbidden.

Today, Feng Shui is not only practiced by Chinese people, but, by all races throughout the world. Feng Shui is an ancient art of placement and living in harmony with the environment. It is not a religious practice, not a spiritual practice nor a magical practice.

For more information about bedroom feng shui arrangement, visit : http://www.1fengshui.com/bedroom_feng_shui.htm

1FengShui
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