If you were to Google the differences between men and women you would no doubt find yourself sifting through a mixture of outdated quotes, human body comparisons or lyrics to old love songs, cue 'The Difference Between A Woman And A Man' by Doug Stone. But, beyond these more obvious differences (or theories), did you know that men and women often require different things from the bedroom each night? And yes! We're still talking about sleep!
Check out these 6 common sleeping myths we've busted about men and women:
1. Myth: Woman need more sleep than men
True! According to both Britain's leading sleep scientist Jim Horne and the Loughborough University, women require roughly 20 minutes more sleep at night than men. Horne explained that this is the likely result of women using increased bursts of brain function as they multitask more frequently throughout the day, resulting in a larger need to recharge at night. So, next time your male companion makes a note about you going to bed a little early or catching an extra half-hour in the morning, let him know that it's backed by science!
Did you know? Optimal sleep times for both adult genders sit at around 7-9 hours.
2. Myth: Women tend to have more evening energy than men
False! Have you ever heard of a circadian rhythm? It's our natural, internal process that helps regulate our sleep and wake cycle in line with the sun. Although it has been widely known to reset roughly every 24 hours, recent studies suggest that men's internal body clocks tend to run truer to a full 24-hour cycle than women's. These findings also highlighted that melatonin may affect women at a faster rate, causing a slightly shorter cycle and explaining why women may feel spikes of tiredness before their usual bedtime. With an earlier reset rate, women are usually earlier risers too!
If you find yourself feeling little sluggish of a morning, we suggest starting your day with a dose of sunlight to help reset your circadian rhythm and promote your alert levels during the day.
3. Myth: On average, men are better at sleeping than women
True! Due to unique hormonal fluctuations, women are 2-3 times more likely to experience forms of insomnia and other sleep disorders than men. Hormonal symptoms like sweating, temperature changes, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause and anxiety are some of the most common disruptors of a regular sleep routine!
Is menopause meddling with your sleeping patterns? Check out our Menopause Drops which are specially formulated to help reduce symptoms of hot flushes, night sweats and irritability.
4. Myth: Women fall asleep faster than men
True! If we refer back to our little spiel about our circadian rhythms, women are biologically wired to slump at earlier times in an evening, meaning that their heaviness and need for sleep can result in falling asleep faster! It’s important to emphasise the word can in the last sentence because everyBODY is different! If you sometimes feel like you need a university degree to nail dozing off at night, let us try and fast track your snoozing with our Fall Asleep Faster Kit, an all-in-one bundle with some of our favourite sleep solutions!
5. Myth: Snoring is a problem that only men experience
False! Genetically, while men have a narrower nasal passage which can increase the likelihood of snoring, many factors fall into WHY you might sound like a small running motor at night and they affect both men and women! Age, sleeping position, weight, injury, alcohol and even some medications can turn non-snorers into rumbling companions. While investing earplugs can be a great inexpensive solution, we encourage that if you or your loved ones do begin snoring you try and explore causes as soon as possible to rule out any sinister breathing complications.
6. Myth: Women dream more than men
False! According to Dr Deirdre Leigh Barrett, a psychology professor at Harvard Medical School and author of The Committee of Sleep, women on average, recall more dreams than men, which is why they are often perceived to dream more than their male counterparts (even though it's relatively even!). Although researchers aren't certain as to why women recall their dreams more vividly, Barret hypothesised that this could come down to a simple case of women being more interested in their dreams, pushing a subconscious desire to remember more.
It's no secret that everyone is biologically, emotionally and psychologically different, so our sleeping times (and styles) often reflect that! While it's always good fun to put on our myth-busting hats and explore truths, it's important to always listen to your body, maintain a routine as much as possible and embrace a good nights sleep when you get it!
If your quality of sleep is affecting your quality of days, why not consider a complete sleep reset? Set life long foundations and reclaim your sleep with our eBook 10 Steps / 10 Days: Your Guide to Sleep Well, Be Well.
