All about the sleep cycle and why it is so important

During sleep, you go through several different stages. Each ‘sleep stage’ is unique and has its own function. The sleep cycle always occurs in a fixed order. A full sleep cycle lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours and consists of five of these sleep stages. You go through your sleep cycle about four to six times each night, depending on the length of your sleep.

Sleep phase 1: falling asleep phase

Phase one is the falling asleep phase. This phase causes you to fall asleep. During this phase, your body floats for a few minutes between being awake and asleep. Your brain activity decreases during this time.

Do you have trouble falling asleep? That means you do not easily enter this phase. Stress and worries are often the cause.

Sleep phase 2: light sleep

After the falling asleep phase comes the light sleep phase. This phase lasts about an hour. In this phase, you sleep very lightly, as the name suggests. Yet you do not wake up from small noises.

Sleep phase 3: transition phase

Phase three is the transition phase. A phase in which you fall more deeply asleep within 5 minutes. Your breathing becomes regular, your heart rate slows, and your body relaxes.

Sleep phase 4: deep sleep

Eventually, you reach your deep sleep phase. You stay here for about 20 minutes. This phase is very important because your body rests during it. This phase of your sleep cycle is also called delta sleep or slow-wave sleep. In the deep sleep phase, your body recovers optimally and builds up energy for the next day.

Sleep phase 5: REM sleep

REM sleep or dream sleep follows deep sleep. In this phase, you dream a lot, and your heart rate and breathing become irregular. Your muscles are still completely relaxed, but your blood pressure rises. In this phase, you process information. Also, part of your experiences is stored in your long-term memory.

After the fifth sleep phase (REM sleep), you (unconsciously) wake up briefly. Your body checks whether there are any pain signals, whether you need to go to the toilet, and whether the environment is safe. If this is not the case, you wake up so you can take action. Everything in order? Then you simply fall back asleep and start again at phase 1.

The consequences of a disturbed sleep cycle are varied. For example, one person may suffer from mood and concentration problems, while another experiences eating problems due to a poor sleep cycle. A disturbed biological clock can also cause mental illnesses, such as depression or psychosis. The physical consequences should not be underestimated either. Obesity is more common among people with a poor sleep cycle, as are heart and vascular diseases, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Do you want to support your sleep cycle? Then a weighted blanket can be a good aid. A weighted blanket helps you fall asleep faster, sleep more soundly, and wake up more refreshed.

Sometimes it is very difficult to establish a rhythm in your sleep cycle. Especially if you are a night worker or have many irregular shifts. Whether you work during the day or at night, regularity is the most important for a good night's rest.

This actually means that night workers are best off permanently reversing their rhythm. Always sleep during the day. By getting light at the right moments – in the hours after you wake up – the body can handle that well.

If you work irregularly, like nurses or taxi drivers, it is good to keep a fixed rhythm for a few days. For example, make sure you have a few evening shifts in a row. Constantly changing rhythms do not create an ideal sleep cycle, but your body will get used to it.

In this blog, you read all about your sleep cycle and how to best deal with it.