10 false facts (that are ruining your sleep)

There is a lot of sleep advice on the internet. And believe it or not, most of that sleep advice isn't that helpful. So how can you separate truth from fiction?
Join sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus as he debunks ten of the biggest sleep myths! Can you function well on less than five hours of sleep? Is more sleep better? Can you make up for lost sleep on the weekend? Dr. Breus explains some of our top misconceptions about sleep, and gives you some tips for how to sleep better.
📺 For more tips on getting better sleep, check out our video: • 5 tips for better sleep
🧑🏻‍💻 Take our Sleep Quiz to receive some of Dr. Breus’s personalized sleep recommendations and begin your journey to better sleep! sleepdoctor.com/
0:00 Debunking Sleep Myths
0:29 Five Hours of Sleep or Less
1:01 More Sleep is Better
1:35 Loud Snoring is Normal
2:07 Alcohol and Weed Help Your Sleep
2:45 If You Can't Sleep, Stay in Bed
3:15 Older People Need Less Sleep
3:45 Weekends Make Up Sleep Debt
4:12 Turkey and Warm Milk
4:41 The Snooze Button Helps You Sleep
5:11 Long Naps are Best for Sleep
😴 Michael Breus, Ph.D., is a double board-certified clinical psychologist and sleep expert. He's been in practice since 1999 and helped thousands of patients improve their sleep. Dr. Breus has written five books on sleep and conducted over 1,000 interviews to the press and public.
#sleeptips #sleepbetter #myths

[@Thisispow]

At 2:47 you mentioned the tip that if you can't stay asleep, to get out of bed. However in your video "How to fall back asleep in the middle of the night", you mentioned that if it's possible it's better to just stay in bed as much as we can. I'm confused here in this aspect.

[@TheSleepDoctor]

YES you are correct, I suggest that if people feel any serious level of frustration then they should get up and go to another room. But they should at least try staying in bed, at first. If you do like staying in bed, then you "officially" have my permission to do so!

[@michelefinizio6520]

Thank you doctor you said it's good to get 7 hours sleep to feel fully rested I remember you said you only get six and a half I also only get 6 and a half hours sleep and feel fine

[@gael7w802]

I don't remember the last time I got undisturbed sleep. The closest I got recently was after doing an eleven mile hike after five hours the night before. In other words, I can only get "normal" sleep if I expend everything I have throughout the day

[@the_real_hislordship]

I find earplugs vital. It's not like I'm aware of noises but they must do something as I sleep much better with earplugs. I've got those Hearos ones. Bright pink if I can so I can find them if they disappear under a pillow 😁 Also flatter pillows make me dream a lot more. Probably due to increased blood to the brain. Let me know if you try these and what you find.

[@JIMKATSANIDIS]

Wonderfully detailed information on all things sleep, easy to understand and follow. I can put all this information to use right away! Thanks for the helpful and useful video Dr. Michael!👋👍

[@k.s.obrien9459]

Thank you, really appreciate your channel! I'm confused about one point, which is the question of staying in bed if you can't sleep. One of your recent videos said it's better to stay in bed because even if you're just resting it is restorative. Yet in this video you advise to get up and do something in low lighting. Which is it? Thx!

[@mmisia1024]

I noticed this too!! I hope he comments on this.

[@firestick4991]

The last video was about getting back to sleep if you were already sleeping. Stay in bed. This video is about going to sleep from the start. If you can’t fall asleep, get up after about 15 minutes of trying, and go back to bed once you feel sleepy.

[@markchapman6800]

Yeah, I'm doing better since I gave up on that "get up and do something else" nonsense. Reading in particular has never helped me get back to sleep, but just relaxing in bed, not *trying* to sleep, often does the trick now.

[@user-np4mt8zy1x]

@@markchapman6800exactly I do the same 👍

[@metafizisist]

Putting it mildly, the state of "knowledge" about sleep is in a state of continuous flux. I can remember when a sleep cycle was supposed to consist of 4 NREM + 1 REM stages; now it is supposed to consist of 3 NREM + 1 REM stages ...

[@SnowyMango]

Would love sleep tips to get 7-9 hours with a new baby 😂 in all seriousness, interested in how one can make sleep most effective assuming a baby waking them every few hours. Any studies on that?

[@tiggywinkle20]

Doctor, how do you deal with overthinking. I have halved my anti depressant, in your country it is Remeron, Mirtazapine here to half of 15 mg. On prescribed Melatonin. Can’t get that here! Also battling with diazepam for sleep which is evil pill. You become tolerant. I could throw all these in the river. I am older lady and have always needed much sleep. Not getting it now. Early morning waking or any time! Advice please and or from fellow sufferers. Thank you😴🙏🙏❤️🇬🇧

[@farmergiles1065]

I think researchers don't know nearly as much about sleep as they think they do, although they have made some advances in the last 10 years. There is still too much left to know to be so very confident in recommendations. I have apnea, under good control for many years. I am older, and would say I definitely have irregularities in my circadian rhythms. I've tried tricks with indoor lighting, but there's just been no effect at all. There are two things I was told to do that I have rejected outright, after months of implementing them, and experiencing not just no benefits, but actual harms. First, if I go to bed in the evening and can't get to sleep in 15 minutes, I don't get up. At least not always. Mostly, I remain in bed. I pray. (Some people will hate that idea.) I don't sweat it (don't get upset or anxious). I have learned the hard way that I cannot control this type of event and that I just need to roll with it. Sooner or later, I do fall asleep, and often it is high quality sleep. I just can't switch it on or off as I used to. If I really am stuck on some problem or snag that I have been trying to sort out, it may keep nagging me awake. Then I get up, and take a few notes for all the thoughts that have been plaguing me. Once I know they are safely available for tomorrow, I return to bed, and generally can sleep right away. Second, I never hit the snooze alarm. Yes, I know you told me not to, but the reason is that I never set an alarm in the first place. I sleep until I awaken naturally. If my awakening varies by an hour, I have the advantage that I do not have to rise to get to a job any more; I'm retired. But I generally wake up within a ten-minute period every morning anyway. If I'm late, it's because I needed that sleep. And if I have an appointment or something, I remind myself when I go to bed what time I need to get up. Then I sleep, and I wake up when I told myself to. I think that's a learned ability, but I've had it ever since adolescence or early adulthood. I wonder how many people have ever tried it. I don't guarantee it will work immediately, but with practice it may come. Set your alarm five or ten minutes later, but tell yourself to wake up before. You may get there, and end up tossing out the alarm. Something to sleep on, anyway.

[@user-np4mt8zy1x]

I do the same with the 15 minutes tip. I do not get up, I stay in bed, relax, rest. I am much better the next day than getting up :)

[@user-np4mt8zy1x]

I don‘t get it. In a previous video you are advising to stay in bed, talking about a regenerative deep rest, that this is good for us too. That’s actually what I am doing and I am much better after than getting up. Actually this getting up tip always stressed me out immensely. I enjoy laying in bed even if I don’t sleep, why should I get up? Now I feel really confused…

[@davegreen930]

The previous video suggested staying in bed if you wake up during the night. This video suggested NOT staying in bed if you have trouble falling asleep in the first place.

[@user-np4mt8zy1x]

@@davegreen930 I often have trouble falling asleep quickly. But I just accept it, I do not try to force sleep, I just stay in bed and relax. It works just much better for me than getting up, which on the contrary puts me even more awake no matter what I do then.

[@TheSleepDoctor]

Great question! YES you are correct, I suggest that if people feel any serious level of frustration then they should get up and go to another room. But they should at least try staying in bed at first. If you LIKE staying in bed then you "officially" have my permission to do so!

[@user-np4mt8zy1x]

@@TheSleepDoctor thank you so much for your reply and for clarifying this ☺️

[@ComeOnPeopleThink]

Who the hell sleeps for 7 to 9 hours…

[@maddogpopp]

unfortunately awaken 2 or 3 times to go to the bathroom. interupts sleep

[@GinaK687]

I don’t think I’ve felt rested since before having kids lol

[@JosephAkins]

But you say stay in bed in another video. So which is it!?

[@sandeepmortal]

9 hours a night? I can't do that in two

[@mlee6847]

Conflicting information from one video to the next especially about getting out of bed, etc. Am beginning to doubt his credibility.

[@firestick4991]

No conflict. You’re just not paying attention. The last video was about getting back to sleep if you were already sleeping. Stay in bed. This video is about going to sleep from the start. If you can’t fall asleep, get up after about 15 minutes of trying, and go back to bed once you feel sleepy.