Naturally, people turn to sleep hacks and tricks designed to boost productivity by optimizing your sleep.

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What is sleep deprivation?

Experts generally recommend adults getat least seven hours of sleepa night to function optimally.

Yetresearch showsaround 20 percent of us get far less than this on a regular basis.

Woman staying awake in bed

What causes sleep deprivation?

Many factors can contribute to sleep deprivation.

Heather thinks social media,sleep mythsandsleepmaxxing trendsmay be to blame.

Woman sat up with a duvet wrapped around her, holding a mug and looking tired

Unrealistic routines think being part of the 5am club can actually cause major sleep disruption, says Heather.

(Some experts suggestswitching sleepmaxxing for a mindful sleep routine.)

But major lifestyle changes outside of our control can also be a factor too.

A man wearing a grey tshirt sitting on bed of bed in beige room with his head in his hands as he struggles with anxiety and depression and sleep.

Diet and lifestyle can play a big part too.

Alcohol has a big impact on sleep deprivation" Heather explains.

Memory issues

Problems recalling information or remembering things are key markers of sleep deprivation.

A woman lifts her arm out from under her white duvet in order to turn off her alarm clock

Microsleeping can even happen with our eyes open.

If you’re regularly sleeping for hours during the day, it’s a clear sign of sleep deprivation.

“This means your sleep can become fragmented and youre more prone to bouts of waking, she adds.

A woman sitting outside drinking her morning coffee in the sun

Here are three easy changes to make that can improve the rest you get.

Daylight helps regulate cortisol and melatonin production which in turn help regulate our body clock.

Alongside this, it can also help you feel more awake to combat the symptoms of sleep deprivation.

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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.