{"id":474,"date":"2020-09-04T08:54:25","date_gmt":"2020-09-04T08:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/?p=474"},"modified":"2023-06-20T09:05:13","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T13:05:13","slug":"feel-better-after-less-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/feel-better-after-less-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You (Think You) Feel Better After Less Sleep"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>It\u2019s the next day.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve slept, but not that much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That doesn\u2019t seem to matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re up. You\u2019re busy. You\u2019re getting things done. Alert, aware, and quick \u2013 there\u2019s nothing getting in your way of your goals today. All of this on less than 6 <a href=\"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/sleep-longer-than-7-hours\/\">hours sleep<\/a>? Maybe sleep really is for the weak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Sound familiar?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of people, myself included, have super productive days while having had way less than a night of sleep. So what gives? Is getting less sleep really better for us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Below I\u2019ve brought together all the answers I could find on this topic. Let\u2019s discover what\u2019s really going on, so you can decide for yourself if less sleep is better for you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overall: Why You Feel Better On Less Sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I understand that lots of people on the internet are in a rush. Maybe you\u2019re running on low sleep and want answers fast. No worries. Here\u2019s a quick summary of why you might feel better on less sleep:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>You&#8217;ve won the sleep lottery and are a genetically short sleeper<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You woke up at the right time on a sleep cycle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&#8217;ve woken up when your circadian rhythm is at it&#8217;s peak<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&#8217;re mistaking &#8220;feeling better&#8221; with your body&#8217;s response to no sleep.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Obviously, there\u2019s a lot more to it than that.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on and we\u2019ll dive into some details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Genetic Short Sleepers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"sleeping.guide\/6-hours-of-sleep\">We all know the people who claim they get by fine on 6 hours or less sleep<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So many people are going around claiming they don\u2019t need sleep. Granted, scientists have found that there is a gene which \u2013 for some reason \u2013 allows you to need less sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s the chances you have that gene?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/peterattiamd.com\/matthewwalkerama2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Around 1 in 12,000.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><u>In other words, you have more chance of getting struck by lightning.<\/u><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So how is everyone else doing it? The short answer is that they aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You don\u2019t know how sleep impaired you really are.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s been found that when people are sleep deprived for so long, they \u2018get used\u2019 to it. This isn\u2019t a good thing \u2013 like they\u2019ve learned how to function just as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>It means that they \u2018got used to\u2019 being more tired, running on coffee, crankier, more impulsive, more stressed, and so on.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hardly sounds like an ideal way to live! That\u2019s not even touching on all the scary long term health effects of not getting enough sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do you have the shorter sleep gene?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Think you have the short sleep gene? Well let\u2019s find out. Think about your answers to these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Are you energetic all day long?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you naturally wake up after <a href=\"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/6-hours-of-sleep\/\">5-6 hours of sleep<\/a>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you often wake up feeling refreshed and raring to go?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you ever need to drink coffee\/caffeine to stay alert?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you sleep for longer at the weekends and on vacation?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you answered yes for the first three, and no for the others, then you may be one of the lucky ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the rest of us mortals \u2013 here\u2019s to our next cup of coffee and lazy weekend morning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Riding the Circadian Rhythm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our tiredness and alertness run in sync our Circadian Rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For those who don\u2019t know, it\u2019s a natural cycle within your body \u2013 sort of like a body clock. It makes you feel more awake during the day, and more tired at night. No matter what you\u2019re doing or how much sleep you\u2019ve had, this rhythm runs uninterrupted, constantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Jet lag is when your circadian rhythm is still stuck in an old timezone, making you feel awake and sleepy at the wrong times for your new zone.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-450\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"325\" src=\"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Example-Jet-Lag.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Example-Jet-Lag.png 870w, https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Example-Jet-Lag-300x112.png 300w, https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Example-Jet-Lag-768x287.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Example of the circadian rhythm effect by Jet-Kids<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>No matter what you\u2019re going through, you\u2019ll feel these natural peaks and troughs of awakeness and tiredness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, feeling more awake <em>right now<\/em> may just be because of your circadian rhythm timing. Even if you stayed up all night, during mid-morning and early evening you\u2019d still feel decently awake (especially compared to the rest of the day).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The issue is going to be during mid-afternoon and late evening. If it\u2019s your circadian rhythm that\u2019s currently saving you, beware that it\u2019s going to have the opposite effect later on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You Nailed the Sleep Cycle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s become common knowledge that we sleep in 90 minute cycles. During each one, we change between different \u2018levels\u2019 of sleep \u2013 mainly alternating between REM and NREM sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-545\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/REM.png\" alt=\"REM Sleep Stages\" class=\"wp-image-545\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/REM.png 512w, https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/REM-300x185.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">REM (orange) gets more prevalent compared to NREM (blue) as the night goes on.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Ideally, we want to wake up at the end of a cycle. This will give us the easiest transition between sleep and waking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However. Waking up mid-way through a cycle can cause havoc. It\u2019s the difference between taking 2 steps up a ladder, or being violently pulled back up from a deep dark well of dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve slept less but feel good, there\u2019s a chance you woke up bang on the end of a cycle. This is more likely if you woke up naturally, and not due to an alarm. This may feel miles better than getting more sleep, but being forced awake from a deep sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The issue is that you continue to be awake.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What I mean by this, is that you may get off to a good start. But soon, the lack of sleep will catch up with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/waking-up-at-3am\/\">Coming out of sleep<\/a> easily makes for a refreshed, wakeful morning. One filled with energy and \u201cwow! I feel great today!\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, that\u2019s only temporary. After a few hours, your real tiredness levels will start to set in. And this is when your body starts to demand that you try to \u2018catch up\u2019 on the missing sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>So just like the Circadian Rhythm, this may be a temporary feeling of wakefulness. Try to keep conscious of it as the day goes on.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your Body\u2019s Reaction to Low Sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter how much we <em>want <\/em>to sleep \u2013 we can keep going through willpower alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not fun, but it\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So how does your body cope when it\u2019s being asked to run without it\u2019s daily repair stop?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Well, for one, it gets stressed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This stress opens up a surge in hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These are pumped into you to keep you more on edge, awake, and alert. They essentially make you tighten up, unable to relax, and wired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Your body operating like this is like driving your car at super high revs. You\u2019re moving quickly, but the engine is <u>screaming<\/u> as it\u2019s put into overdrive and revved to the max. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your body\u2019s no different. While you <em>can<\/em> operate on these stress hormones, your \u2018engine\u2019 will eventually wear out. Only instead of a car breakdown, we get what\u2019s known as burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter how much you want to push your body, burnout is inevitable if you\u2019re constantly running on overdrive. You\u2019ll probably get ill \u2013 maybe a fever \u2013 along with complete shutdown of motivation and any ability to work. No matter how important that work seems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Other Side of Running on Stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This stress may be what is making you \u201cfeel\u201d better. You\u2019ve got energy, alertness, and focus. What\u2019s wrong with that, right? Doing it for a little while is surely worth it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, that\u2019s up to you. But there\u2019s one other part to this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Running on stress is like being a different version of yourself.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sure, you\u2019re productive at work. But as we see below, you\u2019re also more impulsive, work-focused, and irritable if things go wrong. So while you may be getting things done, operating like this can risk damaging your relationships with your coworkers, friends, and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sleeping For A Long Time Makes Me Groggy!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I get you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You fight through the week, only to finally lie in on the weekend after a full rest. Yet you\u2019re groggy, can barely think straight, and still need to fight to get yourself going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what gives?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One explanation goes back to sleep cycles and circadian rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because you\u2019ve suddenly slept for hours longer, and woken up hours later, your body\u2019s basically out sync.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It not been able to predict when you\u2019re getting up, and so you may have been woken up halfway through a sleep cycle, or mid-morning when your circadian rhythm is in a downswing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Note \u2013 if you woke up naturally then your sleep cycle was probably fine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2013\/11\/131118133050.htm#:~:text=The%20main%20findings%20from%20the,associated%20with%20higher%20body%20fat.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>One of the most crucial ways in getting great sleep every night is to keep your sleep schedule consistent.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That means sticking to the same sleeping and waking times, every day. Obviously this is tricky \u2013 it\u2019s not easy to go to <a href=\"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/mold-in-bedroom\/\">bed<\/a> \u2018early\u2019 on a Friday night! An hour difference is usually okay, but many people starve themselves of sleep during the week. Friday comes, and it\u2019s a super late night. Leading to waking up mid-morning (or even afternoon) at the weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s a recipe for disaster when it comes to <a href=\"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/14-sure-fire-ways-to-sleep-like-a-baby-tonight\/\">good sleep<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, sticking to the same timings helps your body. By having a consistent sleep and wake time, you\u2019ll find that you quickly adjust to it and will have a MUCH easier time waking up and falling asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re running 100 miles an hour on no sleep right now \u2013 wait a minute.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ask yourself, am I really meant to be functioning like this? Does my body feel like it\u2019s using healthy energy, or is it wired? Am I being more impulsive, and less patient? Am I wanting to get things done NOW?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chances are that you\u2019re running on stress. This is great for short-term productivity, but it\u2019s not healthy. Especially in the long run. Running on low sleep leads to burnout, illness, and other bad side effects of stress. Including bad sleep!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If this sounds like you, <em>slow down. <\/em>Get what you can accomplished for today, then allow yourself real time to rest tonight. If you don\u2019t look after your mind and body, they\u2019ll take what they need with force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope this guide\u2019s helped given you a few things to think about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obviously, everyone is different. Maybe you simply do run better on low sleep, and are the 1 in 12,000 who has the shorter sleep gene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sleep is a tricky topic because it\u2019s so individual. So go with how you feel, and don\u2019t be scared to ask a professional with any questions. Just make sure that you\u2019re being genuine in your considerations, and not forcing yourself into overdrive because you want to be super productive. In the long run, the damage to your health just isn\u2019t worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks for taking the time to read this post. If it\u2019s helped, please consider checking out some of our related articles below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s the next day. You\u2019ve slept, but not that much. That doesn\u2019t seem to matter. You\u2019re up. You\u2019re busy. You\u2019re getting things done. Alert, aware, and quick \u2013 there\u2019s nothing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":533,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=474"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":685,"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474\/revisions\/685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sleeping.guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}