Common Sleep Myths
Common Sleep Myths
Myth: If you can’t fall asleep, you should stay in bed until you eventually fall asleep.
Fact: If you can’t fall asleep after about 20-30 minutes, it’s helpful to get out of bed. Do a quiet and calm activity until you feel sleepy again. Learn more in How to Get a Better Sleep.
Myth: Watching TV is a good way to unwind and relax before bed.
Fact: It’s helpful to relax before bedtime, but watching TV can have the opposite effect. You might stay up later if you watch TV, and the light from the TV or your device can trick your brain into thinking it’s daylight. This means that once you are ready to go to bed, you may have a hard time falling asleep. Learn more in Screen Time & Sleep.
Myth: People that fall asleep during class are lazy.
Fact: It is very common for people to feel tired during the day if they haven’t been able to sleep long enough. Many teenagers experience a change in their body clock during puberty which causes them to be tired later. That makes getting up in the morning for school more difficult. Learn more in Sleeping: The Basics.
Myth: It doesn’t matter if you go to bed and wake up at different times each day.
Fact: If you wake up and go to bed at the same time every day, it can help to regulate your sleep cycle. A busy schedule can often get in the way of this, but if you are having sleeping problems, try getting up and going to sleep at the same time each day and see if this helps.
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