Understanding Sleep

Let’s keep this simple.

You don’t need a science degree to sleep better.

You just need to know what’s happening in your body—and why it matters.

If you’ve been through a lot or your mind tends to bounce around, that’s okay.

This guide is for you.

What is sleep, really?

Sleep is when your body and brain go into "rest and repair" mode.

You're not off—you're busy healing, sorting and resetting.

You go through cycles of:

• Light Sleep – your body starts relaxing

• Deep Sleep – your body repairs and recharges

• REM Sleep – your brain dreams and organizes your emotions

  
  

Each cycle takes about 90 minutes, and you go through 4–6 of them every night.

Why does sleep happen in cycles?

Think of sleep as chapters in a book.

Each cycle builds on the last:

• Deep sleep helps your body feel better

• REM helps your mind feel clearer

  
  

Missing parts of a cycle (like waking up a lot) can leave you foggy, cranky, or wired.

What does good sleep do for you?

It gives you:

• Energy

• Focus

• Emotional balance

• Stronger immune system

• Better memory

  
  

Sleep is not lazy. It’s powerful.

What gets in the way of sleep?

Some common culprits:

• Light at night (screens, lamps, TV)

• Caffeine after 2PM

• Alcohol (it makes you sleepy, but messes up deep sleep)

• Stress

• No wind-down time

  
  

What if I don’t sleep well?

You might feel:

• Foggy or forgetful

• Extra emotional

• Hungrier

• Unmotivated

• Sick more often

  
  

You’re not weak. Your body is tired and asking for care.

What about sleep myths?

Let’s clear up a few:

• “I can catch up on sleep.” Not really. Sleep debt adds up fast.

• “I only need 4–5 hours.” That’s surviving, not thriving.

• “Alcohol helps me sleep.” It knocks you out, but ruins the quality of your rest.

  
  

So... what do I do with all this?

You don’t need to fix everything overnight.

Start with awareness.

Think about what your body’s telling you.

Sleep isn’t selfish—it’s survival.

And don’t worry, we’re about to walk you through the “how” in the next articles.

💡 Quick Quiz: How well do you know your sleep?

Try answering these in your head or write them down!

1. How long is one full sleep cycle?

   a) 30 minutes b) 90 minutes c) 2 hours

   
   

2. What stage of sleep do you dream in?

   a) Light sleep b) Deep sleep c) REM sleep

   
   

3. True or False: You can “make up” for lost sleep on weekends.

   
   

4. Which of these helps your body repair the most?

   a) Deep sleep b) REM sleep c) Light sleep

   
   

5. Which of these is most likely to mess with your sleep?

   a) Drinking water before bed b) 10 minutes of quiet reading c) Doom scrolling Instagram at midnight

   
   

   You made it.

   
   

And that says something.

Even reading this shows you’re trying—and that counts.

The next step?

We’ll build your Personal Sleep Plan together.

One small change at a time.

Quiz Answers

1. b) 90 minutes: That’s the average length of one full sleep cycle.

2. c) REM sleep: Dreams mostly happen during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.

3. False: You can’t fully “make up” for missed sleep—especially lost deep or REM sleep.

4. a) Deep sleep: This is when your body does the most physical healing and restoration.

5. c) Doom scrolling Instagram at midnight: Blue light and emotional stimulation from your phone can delay or disturb your sleep.

#Sleep Hygiene