Women, this is not an attempt to solely get you more sleep this weekend but a legit fact backed by scientific studies.
Have you personally felt how you sometimes need more sleep than men and perhaps inadequate sleep makes you crankier and physically more drained than men? While sometimes you need 8 or maybe more hours to feel replenished than your other half? Let’s dig deeper to find out if it’s being “lazy” or your body signaling you and telling us something about how men and women have different sleep needs.
As per research adults need about 7 or more hours of sleep a day for optimal health. Night is the time when your body repairs itself and it’s crucial for the rejuvenation of your emotional and physical wellbeing. Women themselves could give a well pointed long list of why they need more sleep than men but let’s refer to some science, shall we?
After decades of research, we definitely know how men and women’s brains are wired differently. Something we would normally dismiss in an instant but today, we are borrowing some facts from science to make sure you can’t dismiss it. A study conducted by the Sleep Research center at England’s Loughborough University, has shown women do indeed need more sleep than men. The study has stated about as little as 20 minutes can be beneficial. Research says female brains work harder and, in more ways, than one at a time.
Diving deeper into the reasons, they include various biological, behavioral and societal differences throughout life.
1. Prone To An Increased Risk Of Sleep Disorders
*Sigh* Another gift from nature? Research has said we face more potential sleep disorders than men, for instance a 2014 research review concluded women are at 40% more risk of experiencing insomnia. So, the tossing and turning at night needs us to make up for some extra zzzz’s. Further, women are also at a higher risk of developing restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea which both impact the sleep quality!
2. Hormones Throwing Us Off Our Game
Women’s hormones are unpredictable to say the least. What we don’t realize is how many things are affected by our hormones and vice versa – the bane of our existence but essential for our body to function the best that it can. Women go through a series of hormonal changes throughout their lives, from menstruation to pregnancy and then menopause. Did you know they all affect our quality of sleep?
From cramps at night during periods, to the fear of staining the bed while asleep. To being pregnant with all our hormones throwing us off our game with fatigue, drowsiness, going to the bathroom x10, nausea and the list is endless. And finally, when mother nature’s gift is nearing its end it hits us with hot flashes, night sweats and inability to sleep.
Dr Harrington, (sleep scientist and author of ‘The Complete Guide to a Good Night’s Sleep’) says “rising levels of the sex hormone progesterone that occurs in the last two weeks of women’s monthly cycle have a certain effect on the body which requires more sleep”. When this happens, we really should be sleeping for at least half an hour to an hour longer at this time of the month. “As we get closer to the end of our cycle, a lot of us suffer from PMT (premenstrual tension), feeling irritable, grumpy or emotional,” she says. “And those are also the hallmarks of sleep deprivation.”
3. Gender Expectations Influence Sleep Patterns
Societal and cultural roles have a tremendous impact on the way women live their lives and if that wasn’t enough, those affect their sleep too. Studies have provided evidence of how women are recipients of less, undisturbed quality sleep. If we scratch beyond the surface, it’s partly due to the fact women are mostly primary care givers to children and family members, thus sacrificing their sleep. How often is it that our mothers are the last to get to bed? After setting everybody’s meals, clearing the kitchen and it’s then that they finally get to bed. They are responsible for even waking up first to make sure everybody is fed for the day and well prepared to go off into their daily lives.
Multi-Tasking Away Our Sleep
Women do multi task and we all know it. Have you seen your mother? She can do 3 different things while scolding us!
Loughborough University’s Sleep Research Center‘s director told the New York post that women’s brains are wired differently, they tend to multitask and are flexible with doing a lot of things so they might end up using more of their brains compared to men.
So, girls and GUYS, please let your mother get a little extra sleep in the am or pm! They don’t just deserve it; their bodies actually need it. Also, ladies the next time you feel guilty for sleeping in for an extra hour. Try to not be so hard on yourself because there might be a reason probably from one or more of the above that you actually need it.
Sources: Sleep Advisor, Healthline, The Sleep Doctor
