Most people obsess over getting eight hours of sleep, but emerging research suggests we might be focusing on the wrong metric. Sleep quality, it turns out, may be significantly more important than quantity alone.
Sleep occurs in cycles, each containing different stages: light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. Each stage serves specific functions, from physical restoration to memory consolidation. Simply lying in bed for eight hours doesn't guarantee you're getting enough of each crucial stage.
Recent studies have revealed some surprising findings:
- Seven hours of quality sleep can be more beneficial than eight hours of poor sleep
- Deep sleep quality impacts recovery more than total sleep time
- Sleep efficiency (time asleep vs time in bed) is a better predictor of restfulness
- Sleep continuity matters more than total duration
The key factors affecting sleep quality include:
- Sleep onset time
- Number of wake-ups
- Time spent in deep sleep
- Morning wake time
- Overall sleep efficiency
This is where sleep hygiene and proper support become crucial. While good sleep habits are essential, certain nutrients can help optimise your sleep quality. Magnesium, in particular, has been shown to improve both sleep efficiency and deep sleep quality.
That's why we developed Deep Rest using MetaMag® Magnesium Bisglycinate. Rather than just sedating you like many sleep supplements, it supports your body's natural sleep mechanisms for truly restorative rest.