If you’re confounded by the puzzle of how to wake up early, understanding sleep cycles can help you solve the conundrum. Although sleeping seems like a straightforward and simple routine, there’s actually a complex biological process occurring while your body is at rest. A progression of sleep stages occurs as your body shifts from lighter into deeper sleep and back again. If you want to know how to wake up early, understanding these phases of sleep is very helpful.
The REM & NREM
The sleep cycle can be broken down into two basic stages: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM). NREM is the first stage and it includes four phases itself before REM is achieved. The first phase of NREM is a period of very light sleep from which one can easily be awakened. The second phase begins when the body starts to rest, meaning that the heart rate slows, body temperature lowers and muscle movement becomes more intermittent. The third and fourth phases of NREM represent the body in deep sleep, with the fourth phase being a deeper sleep than the third. One will feel groggy and disoriented if awoken during either of these phases.
So, How Does it work…
After the fourth phase of NREM, one cycles into REM sleep. On average, this happens after 90 minutes of NREM. The first REM cycle is very short, usually only lasting about 10 with the REM period extending with each successive cycle and lasting up to an hour on the final cycle. The body actually becomes livelier in REM, with heart rate increasing and breathing becoming heavier. The brain also becomes more active and intense dreams occur. The REM stage, along with the third and fourth phases of NREM, allows the body to recuperate, thus making them the most important parts of the sleep cycle.
Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock
