{"id":33681,"date":"2024-11-19T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=33681"},"modified":"2024-11-05T15:58:41","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T15:58:41","slug":"light-sleeper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/light-sleeper\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You a Light Sleeper? Here’s What to Do About It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Falling asleep is already challenging enough\u2014and things like light, noise<\/a>, and movement from a partner can make it even more difficult. This is especially the case if you\u2019re a light sleeper. What is a light sleeper, exactly? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to find out if you\u2019re a light sleeper and what you can do about it to get your sleep back on track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a light sleeper?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“A light sleeper is a person who is easily awoken or disturbed during sleep by any environmental changes like noise, lights, or even smells,” says Nichole Mondshein, a sleep product expert at Sleepopolis<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Light sleepers usually need silence and darkness if they hope to fall asleep and stay asleep\u2014and even then, they may struggle to get deep REM sleep, explains Mondshein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“A light sleeper is a person who is easily awoken or disturbed during sleep by any environmental changes like noise, lights, or even smells.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Nichole Mondshein, a sleep product expert at Sleepopolis <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What causes someone to be a light sleeper?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Light sleeping is often genetic, but it could also be environmental or situational. “Things like stress and anxiety may cause someone to sleep more poorly and lead to an increase in light sleeping,” says Elizabeth Zarzour<\/a>, a certified sleep consultant and owner of EZ Sleep Training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are other lifestyle factors, like drinking alcohol<\/a>, working the night shift<\/a>, or having an erratic schedule, that can contribute to being a light sleeper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something else that could impact being a light sleeper? Any diagnosed or undiagnosed\u00a0sleep or health conditions<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For some people, being a light sleeper is something that they have dealt with for most of their lives, and for others, this may be a new struggle\u2014many different things could cause this phenomenon,” notes Jill Zwarensteyn, a certified sleep science coach at Sleep Advisor<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to manage being a light sleeper<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best course of action when trying to improve your sleep quality is making some lifestyle changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This may include establishing a bedtime routine to unwind, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and creating a cool, comfortable, and screen-free sleep environment,” says Mondshein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch this video for tips on how to put together a relaxing bedtime routine:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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