The time it takes you to fall asleep speaks volumes about what your body might be going through. It can also tell whether or not you’re getting enough sleep.
If you don’t know for sure how long it takes you to nod off after you shut your eyes, there’s an easy way to find out. Simply set a 15-minute timer, close your eyes and see if you doze off before it goes off.
Turns out falling asleep in a glimpse of a second regularly is not a skill but rather a sign of overtiredness or maybe even depression.
It’s very likely that you feel so sleepy during the day, that without a short nap you simply won’t function properly. Sometimes you fall asleep while watching telly or reading a book. Also, you may not feel rested in the morning, even if you slept enough.
If you’re not getting enough shuteye, or your sleep schedule is inconsistent, try adjusting your sleep-wake cycle by going to bed earlier. It also helps a lot to figure out the number of hours you need for a good quality rest. Try to sleep for 8 hours, even on a weekend and see how you feel.
If it takes you around 15 minutes to nod off, it means you’re getting enough Zzz’s. Anything from 10 to 20 minutes is considered normal. If you feel fully rested when you wake up and don’t feel drowsy during the day, your sleep routine obviously works for you. And it looks like you have figured out your magic number of hours for a perfect night’s sleep.
You may be sleeping too many hours (9 or more) and your brain is still too active for you to fall asleep. In that case, you may want to fix your sleep cycle to sleep a little less and make it a regular habit. However, not being able to sleep for too long on multiple occasions may be a sign of chronic anxiety and insomnia. In this case, try adopting healthier sleep habits. And if that doesn’t help, consult your physician to figure out the real problem and its solution.