I’m a sleep expert, that’s why falling asleep in 5 minutes is a “bad sign”

We all feel better after a good night’s sleep, but getting it isn’t always easy.

And falling asleep too quickly can also be a “bad sign,” according to a sleep expert.

Falling asleep in less than five minutes indicates that you are likely sleep deprived, warned Dr. Sophie Bostock, nicknamed The Sleep Scientist.

Taking more than half an hour can also be cause for alarm.

Speaking on the Her Spirit podcast hosted by former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Michin, Dr Bostock revealed that you’re also more prone to making bad decisions when you’re tired, which can further damage your sleep pattern.

While adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep, it is recommended that children get between nine and 13 hours of sleep, the NHS recommends.

The health service estimates that it takes most people 14 minutes on average to fall asleep.

Speaking on the podcast episode, released today, Dr Bostock said: “If you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, this is very often a sign of lack of sleep.”

“If you’re falling asleep within five minutes of going to bed, you’ll most likely benefit from a little more sleep.

“So if you’re sitting next to someone like that, you can feel a little smug that, actually, maybe they haven’t gotten a bit of sleep.”

Dr Bostock, who earned a PhD in health psychology from University College London and appeared on shows like This Morning to talk about the science of sleep, revealed that the secret to good sleep lies in falling asleep in less than 20 minutes. .

But being tired can simply make you more tired and become a cycle that we must break.

She told the podcast: “Anything from 15 to 20 minutes to fall asleep is really normal, but if it regularly takes more than half an hour, you may want to watch your sleep habits.”

She added: “When we’re tired, we’re very susceptible to sleep procrastination, so try to make sleep decisions when you’re not tired.”

‘The problem comes when we are already tired and can’t be bothered to stop.

“That’s why Netflix does that by automatically playing the next episode.”

Dr. Bostock recommended that the best way to improve your sleep pattern is to only go to bed when you feel really tired.

She said: ‘Don’t get into bed until you’re sleepy and tired.

“When you really feel your eyelids getting heavy, maybe a little itchy, it’s a sign that your body is ready for bed.

“We want to develop a positive mental association between our beds and sleep.”