Among the various sleep stages, two of the most well-known are REM sleep and deep sleep.
REM sleep is closely associated with cognition and emotions (not to mention vivid dreams).
Meanwhile, deep sleep is crucial for immune function, physical restoration, and general well-being.
Plus, we’ll offer our top tips on how to get more of both.
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What is REM sleep?
REM sleep is a stage of yoursleep cycledefined by rapid eye movement.
What is deep sleep?
REM sleep vs Deep sleep: What do they both do?
However, each take on very different roles to achieve this.
The role of REM sleep
REM sleep is when most vivid dreaming happens, says Dr Dasgupta.
Your voluntary muscles stay paralyzed so you dont act out dreams.
REM sleep is key for memory, learning, and emotional processing, he adds.
This is also when growth hormones are released, he adds.
This means deep sleep is essential for physical recovery.
REM sleep vs Deep sleep: When do they occur?
The first REM period is usually short, while subsequent REM stages gradually lengthen as you approach the morning.
REM sleep vs Deep sleep: How much do we need?
How much REM sleep do we need?
However, this requirement varies on a range of factors.
How much deep sleep do we need?
As such, sticking to a regular sleep schedule is crucial.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol
Dr Dasgutpa also advises limiting caffeine and alcohol, especially in the evening.
Get enough daylight
Get morning sunlight to help set your internal body clock, Dr Dasgupta advises.
This is especially beneficial to normalize your circadian rhythm (aka your sleep-wake cycles).
Increase exercise during the day
Exercise can improve your sleep.
To encourage deep sleep, Dr Dasgupta also advises refraining from intense activity too close to bedtime.
Beyond that, there are many other elements worth prioritizing to support deep sleep.
Tom’s Guide created this content as part of a paid partnership with Helix Sleep.
The contents of this article are independent and solely reflect the editorial opinion of Tom’s Guide.
