| It has been found that planning your sleep in 90 | | | | however theta waves are also present. It is believed |
| minute increments will help you get a superior night | | | | that Stage three is extremely short and will transition |
| sleep. You may know that when you sleep, your | | | | into stage four very quickly. In children, delta sleep |
| body goes through five distinct stages of sleep. | | | | takes up about 40% of their sleep time and it will be |
| These stages last a total of about 90 to 100 | | | | very burdensome to wake them from this stage. |
| minutes, they will then repeat continuously until you | | | | Stage four will then move to stage three and then |
| wake. | | | | to stage two before moving onto the next stage. |
| Stage One | | | | Stage Five |
| This stage is where you transition into wakefulness | | | | During this stage your brain becomes very active. |
| and sleep. Some people consider that this stage only | | | | Your eyes begin to move rapidly from side to side, |
| happens once, but it will happen every time that your | | | | your heart rate and respiration speed up, and your |
| body enters a state of wakefulness, even if you are | | | | muscles (face, fingers, and legs) may twitch. Groups |
| not aware that you are awake and including when | | | | of voluntary muscles may also become paralyzed |
| waking in the morning. This stage lasts for about five | | | | during this stage and due to increased brain activity, |
| minutes before you move onto stage two. People, | | | | you may begin to hallucinate, or dream. The basic |
| who suffer from stress or apnea, may continue in | | | | period of this stage five can last ten minutes but this |
| this stage for a longer period. The brain waves during | | | | can gradually swell. Beta waves, which are in |
| this stage are predominantly Theta waves but some | | | | excessive occurrences while awake, are most |
| Alpha waves also occur. Your eyes may begin to roll | | | | universal here during the sleep cycle. After Stage five |
| slowly during this stage of sleep. | | | | the body will usually move on to stage two. |
| Stage Two | | | | Sleep specialists have named the first four stages as |
| In Stage two sleep peaks of your brain waves | | | | Non-REM or NREM and the last stage as REM. REM |
| become higher these are called sleep spindles. The | | | | stands for Rapid Eye Movement and is named due to |
| spindles can be followed by k-complexes (where the | | | | the increased eye movement during stage five. Your |
| peaks suddenly descend and then pick back up). | | | | sleep cycle is variable and can be affected by stress |
| Theta waves can also be found in this stage. Stage | | | | levels or certain medication you may take. If you are |
| two is a period of light sleep and initially only lasts a | | | | not consistent with when you go to sleep and how |
| few minutes. Gradually though, stage two sleep | | | | long you sleep, your body might vary the cycles |
| increases to take most the sleep cycle. During this | | | | during sleep or even the length of certain stages. It is |
| stage your heart rate will impede and your body | | | | very important to stick to a schedule, such as going |
| temperature will decrease as your body prepares to | | | | to sleep at midnight and always waking up at 6AM. |
| enter a deep sleep. | | | | This is about four sleep cycles and should be enough |
| Stages Three and Four | | | | sleep for your body. |
| These two stages make up your Delta sleep and | | | | If you have sustained some type of injury or think |
| occur when you are at the deepest sleep. These | | | | you may be coming down with a sickness, you may |
| stages are longest in the initial two sleep cycles and | | | | require greater sleep, but always make sure to try |
| are when your body achieves the greatest quantity | | | | wake up during stage two sleep. If you wake during |
| of restoration. If you have not slept in a while, then | | | | any other stage, especially delta sleep, you will most |
| this is the sleep that your body will crave. Delta | | | | probably feel as though you have not slept at all. |
| waves will be most ongoing in these stages; | | | | |