Insomnia? Getting out of bed might help you finally fall asleep.
By Macaela Mackenzie, Fitness Magazine
By Macaela Mackenzie, Fitness Magazine
There is nothing worse than laying awake at night and not being able
to fall asleep. In addition to being super annoying, not getting enough
sleep can lead to major short-term performance issues and even more
serious health issues over time.
[post_ads]But according to a new study
from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research
Society, spending more time in bed in an effort to catch up on sleepless
nights might majorly backfire. (Do you have this shocking sleep problem that affects athletes?)
Over 500 people kept detailed sleep diaries for a full year. Most of
them were defined as "good sleepers," meaning they didn't regularly have
trouble getting a full night of rest, but about 20 percent of the good
sleepers experienced a bout or two of insomnia over the course of the
year. Half of those who struggled with sleeplessness recovered fully,
while sleep became a more persistent problem for the other half.
After
analyzing the data, the researchers noticed some interesting patterns
among people struggling with sleep: those who had the most trouble
getting to and staying asleep actually spent the most time in bed. They
tended to go to bed earlier, sleep in later, and take more naps during
the day in an effort to play catch up on sleepless hours. Meanwhile,
those who elected to just get up when they were laying in bed wide
awake were more likely to recover from their insomnia and get back to
their regular sleep schedule.
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In other words, next time you find yourself awake before your alarm
goes off, get up rather than trying fruitlessly to fall back asleep.
Lying awake may mess with your sleep schedule long term.
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