We all talk about our sleep patterns – we have an erratic sleep pattern, a good sleep pattern, an irregular sleep pattern…or one which seems to change all the time. But what does it mean to have a good sleep pattern and how can you get into this habit? There are some things which are characteristics of a good sleep pattern. Let’s consider more about sleep patterns and what makes them good and bad for our health and wellbeing.
Falling asleep in less than an hour
If you have a routine where you can get into bed and fall asleep in less than an hour, and preferably less than 30 minutes, this is one of the things which creates a good sleep pattern. This means that each night, if you want to sleep at 11pm, you can get in bed at 10pm and know that you’ll be asleep in time. This is important for planning your routine and taking away any stress you might feel about getting enough sleep.
Waking up no more than once or twice
While many other things can be great about your sleeping pattern, waking up in the middle of the night is rarely welcome. However, many of us experience disruptions in the night and wake up unintentionally. This disruption in sleep can make all the difference between having a good night’s sleep and a bad night’s sleep. Waking up once in the night is not considered an indication of a poor sleep pattern, but if it happens continually, it might be worth a visit to your doctor.
Being asleep for most of the time
If you’re asleep for more than 80% of the time you’re in bed, your sleep pattern is going well. Of course everybody wants to be asleep for 100% of the time they are in bed (or as close as possible), but in reality, most of us will sleep for 70-80% of the time. When calculating how long you spend asleep, you should also include the time you spend waking up in the middle of the night (if this happens to you).
Staying asleep after falling asleep
A common sign of a bad sleep pattern is waking up almost as soon as you have fallen asleep. This is often very frustrating for those who experience it, especially those who already have difficulties falling asleep in the first place.
