How Long Does It Take To Fall Asleep (And Why)?

How Long Does It Take To Fall Asleep (And Why)?

Exact Answer: Between 10 And 20 Minutes

Depending on your age and lifestyle, the average person takes anywhere from ten to sixty minutes to fall asleep. In today’s social media and technology world, it is easy for people to lose track of time. With the use of a phone or computer at night, one is constantly being exposed to bright lights that can make it difficult for the body to know when it is time for bed. 

Though many factors could be causing difficulty in falling asleep, such as stress, anxiety, caffeine consumption throughout the day, etc., many people do not realize they have control over their bedroom environment. 

How Long Does It Take To Fall Asleep

How Long Does It Take To Fall Asleep?

SleepDuration
On Average10 to 20 Minutes
The required amount of sleep8 Hours

The amount of time taken to fall asleep can be relative to the person. For example, children normally take less time than adults do. While their needs might be different than an adult’s, many factors play into how long it takes to fall asleep, such as the person’s age and level of sleepiness before they start sleeping. 

However, it takes anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. The duration is also dependent on external factors like what someone did during the day or a disturbance in their circadian rhythm.

A study found that when people were asked when they remember falling asleep vaguely remember kicking off for about eight hours per night.

Sleep onset takes about 10 to 20 minutes. However, this depends heavily on how tired one is and the environment where they’re sleeping (i.e., darkness, noise levels, room temperature).

Ten minutes after falling asleep is when the body’s natural sleep-inducing chemicals (such as serotonin) reach their highest concentration in one’s brain; that is why it feels like one goes “straight to the land of Nod” during this period. 

These chemical concentrations rise at different rates depending on age – newborns experience the greatest changes in night/day cycles because they need to grow to make matters more complex. These fluctuations can affect the quality of sleep if not enough time is allotted for each stage of sleep to take place before transitioning.

Why Would Falling Asleep Take So Long?

First, one should know that it’s normal to need about 10-20 minutes to fall asleep, and the body needs time to relax the muscles and prepare the area for sleep.

If one’s time is consistently much higher than 20 minutes, this could be due to an underlying condition like obstructive sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome; in these cases, see a doctor for medical treatment options. 

If the situation is not related to an underlying condition but just pure stubbornness on one’s part, then try prioritizing better rest by ensuring that every hour before bedtime has less stimulation – no TV or phone use at all. 

Insomnia is a sleeping disorder that can affect people in different ways. The most common type of insomnia is a struggle to fall asleep or early waking, followed by trouble getting back to sleep. 

Insomnia may result from stress and lifestyle factors such as irregular work schedules or the use of stimulants before bedtime. These two items contribute to the nervous system being more active, which keeps one from relaxing enough for sleep to come easily. 

In addition, caffeine increases the production of adrenaline and norepinephrine in the body, making it very hard for one to relax when they head off to bed after drinking a cup of coffee, tea, or any other caffeinated beverage early in the day. 

Falling asleep is when one’s body goes into rest mode to repair the muscles, bones, and internal organs; the levels of hormones like cortisol decrease also help regulate blood sugar levels.

Conclusion

Studies show that people who don’t sleep well are more likely to experience heart disease than those who get a good night’s rest. 

Other studies show that sleeping well helps protect the brain against Alzheimer-related diseases by stabilizing deeper sleep waves responsible for regulating brain activity related to memory encoding and retention in what’s called ‘SWS’ or slow-wave sleep.

Falling asleep also has psychological benefits for consumers by boosting moods and lowering stress through increased serotonin levels, which makes us feel refreshed when we wake up the next morning. Make sure to maintain a good night’s sleep schedule to be healthier.

References

  1. https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/154/1/50/117333?login=true 

2. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature02223?source=post_page—————————

dot 1
One request?

I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *