fbpx
Header burger open
Search Logo

Jump To

Currently Viewing:

How much REM Sleep do you Need?

a profile image of TSA author Alex

Written By Alex Petroviฤ‡

Certified Sleep Consultant

Featured image for how much REM sleep do you need

29 March 2024 14 min read

What does it mean to be well-rested? Do you just sleep for 8 hours and that's it? Well, it's a bit more complicated than that. So, let's dive into one section of that puzzle and determine how much REM sleep do you need.

While it's easy to think of sleep as one unified experience, it's actually comprised of a few different cycles or stages. And at the most basic level, we can point out two – REM sleep (Rapid eye movement sleep) and Non-REM sleep (or NREM sleep). And while the latter typically covers our body's resting period, REM sleep deals more with our mind.

In fact, REM sleep is when dreams occur! And if your mind doesn't get the rest it requires, you can find yourself mentally drained the following day – and nobody wants that. So, let's talk more in-depth about the different stages of sleep, REM sleep, what affects it, and how you can best optimise your sleeping routine.

What are sleep stages or sleep cycles?

Before we fully dive into REM sleep, we need to fully understand what happens once we fall asleep. We'll be using NIH as our source, and briefly go over what is what.

What is Non-REM sleep?

As we've mentioned in the intro, non-rem sleep is the sleep stage when our body “relaxes”. To be more precise, your body temperature drops, your muscles ease up, and your body starts repairing muscle and bone tissue. And if you're into bodybuilding or fitness in general, this is the sleep cycle when muscle growth is initiated (to a degree)!

Non-REM sleep also constitutes about 75-80% of our total sleep. And not getting enough non-REM sleep will typically result in physical fatigue, slowed down muscle growth, and possibly the development of some sleep disorders. However, since it encompasses such a large percentage of sleep, it's fairly easy to assess whether you're getting enough non-REM sleep.

What is REM sleep?

An image of a woman sleeping with a sleep mask

Now for the main belle of the bawl – REM sleep! REM or rapid eye movement sleep occurs after non-REM sleep and it's when a few interesting things happen.

For one, this is when muscle paralysis sets in. And while that might sound like a bad thing – it's quite the opposite.

In essence, your body “locks out” so that you don't end up reenacting your dreams. In fact, when these “locks” aren't put into place, you often develop sleep disorders known as REM sleep behavioural disorders.

For example, this is when you'd laugh in your sleep, talk about things that aren't there, or even start moving around.

Secondly, as the name would imply, the REM stage has your eyes rapidly moving in all directions.

And this is also the sleep stage where your mind “rests” and neural networks in your brain are solidified.

What does one full sleep cycle look like?

Now that we know the steps your body goes through after falling asleep, let's put it all together. So, here's what a typical sleep cycle would look like:

From this point on, your body goes through as many sleep cycles as it can/you allow it. Without an alarm, you're the most likely to wake up during light sleep. This is typically the best outcome as being woken up from REM or deep sleep will usually make you feel more groggy.

How much REM sleep do you need?

Now that we know how important both REM and NREM sleep are, it's natural to have questions. For example, how much deep sleep do you need? Or how much REM sleep do you need? Well, the answer to this question is rather simple in theory but can be a bit more difficult in practice.

The fact of the matter is that since sleep is broken into consistent cycles, there isn't anything you could do in order to get more deep sleep or more REM sleep. You just need to get enough sleep in general! And if you're not sure whether you're getting enough sleep, we recommend going to our page and doing the sleep calculator test. This is because the amount of sleep you need does differ depending on your age.

It can also help to get a good sleep tracker so that you know exactly how much sleep you're really getting. Some models even track REM sleep in particular.

But as a general rule of thumb, you want about 20% of your sleeping time to be spent in REM sleep. So, just get enough sleep in general and make sure not to do anything that can lead to you getting lower-quality sleep. After all, while there isn't anything that helps you get more REM sleep, there are a few sleep habits and conditions that can make you get less REM sleep.

Why is REM sleep important?

An image of a woman sleeping on a couch

Now that we've answered the questions of when REM sleep occurs and what all the sleep stages are, let's talk about the consequences.

Sleep deprivation can in general lead to a lot of adverse health conditions, that can range from heightened odds of obesity to even cardiovascular disease.

But what about REM sleep deprivation?

Well, as we've mentioned REM sleep is for the mind what deep sleep is for the body. In other words, it's when your brain gets to process new information, solidify memories, and even learn muscle patterns.

And it's even more important for infants as it's when their central nervous system is the most active and encompasses mature brain development.

So, whether you're an infant, adolescent, or senior, getting enough sleep is rather important. And to further drive that point home, let's talk about a few of the consequences that can occur due to REM sleep deprivation.

What happens during REM sleep?

If the previous section seemed a bit too vague, don't worry, we've got you! We generally like to think of three main processes that occur during REM sleep (but they're not the only ones):

What happens if you don't get enough REM sleep?

When it comes to REM sleep deprivation, some conditions are more apparent than others. For example, heightened risk of obesity, brain fog or irritability, and migraines. And while the latter two might seem pretty obvious, obesity seems slightly out of place.

Well, new research suggests that not getting enough REM sleep leads to overstimulation in certain parts of the brain that can leave the individual feeling extremely hungry. And the problem here is that sleep and obesity have a two-way relationship, meaning that just as bad sleep can lead to obesity, obesity can then stop you from getting a good night's sleep. Not to mention conditions that can also pop up along the way such as obstructive sleep apnea.

In fact, the same research paper even suggests that chronic sleep deprivation might just be fatal. So, getting more REM sleep isn't just about improving your mood but also keeping your body healthy and running!

What affects REM sleep?

An image of a woman having a bad dream while asleep

Now that we know what REM sleep is and why it's important, let's start talking about how you can get more REM sleep.

So, let's first see what could be holding you back.

The most obvious culprit is a lack of adequate sleep in general. After all, if REM sleep account for 20% of total sleep and your sleep duration is only around 4 hours a night, you're probably not getting enough REM sleep (or sleep in general).

However, there are also factors that affect your REM cycles specifically.

So, let's quickly go over the many lifestyle or medical factors that can be shortening your REM sleep cycle. And do note, while some of these can be fixed with simple lifestyle changes, others will need the intervention of a medical professional.

So, we strongly urge you to go to a sleep clinic if something outside of your control is shortening your REM sleep.

Alcohol

It can sometimes be hard to figure out exactly how alcohol affects sleep. After all, when you've had a bit more to drink, you can sometimes fall asleep in seconds and stay asleep far longer than you would normally. But is it healthy sleep? Well, no.

Plenty of sleep research has shown that alcohol affects our sleep patterns and leads to less REM sleep. In fact, these drunken naps seem to prefer light sleep in general, as deep sleep occurs less frequently as well. And if you've been paying attention, you'd know that this means that both your body and mind aren't getting the rest they need.

Medication

Depending on what medication you're using, your REM sleep could also be suffering. Specifically, some antidepressants can potentially cause less REM sleep overall. However, unlike the previous segment, medication usage isn't something we can change on a whim and different types of medications can affect people in different ways.

So, it's always best to consult your GP or have a sleep study done, as tracking your sleep cycles and measuring your brain waves is a lot more precise than just blanket statements and trends. Generally speaking, the following types of medications are the most likely to cause less time in the REM phase:

These are just some of the medications that can affect sleep. As you might have noticed, they're not always something you'd expect and can in some cases even seem counter-productive. This is why dealing with sleep disorders can be rather difficult without the help of a professional.

Lifestyle choices

Lastly, we want to discuss a few lifestyle choices that can also lower your overall sleep duration. However, we do want to clarify that even though we're calling them lifestyle choices, some of these habits are difficult to change on your own. So, seek professional help if needed.

Drinking alcohol

While a lot of people like to take a nightcap in order to fall asleep, alcohol is anything but beneficial for sleep quality. Alcohol affects sleep quality in a very negative way and can often lead to less deep and REM sleep overall. Of course, this is mostly the case when drinking a larger amount of alcohol in a single sitting.

Certain foods

Knowing what to eat before bed can be a bit tricky as certain foods can lead to a higher sleep latency. This means that it can take a longer time to fall asleep. On top of that, certain foods can also make it more likely that you'll wake up frequently during the night, thus making it more difficult to have consistent sleep cycles.

Caffeine

By this point, most people know that drinking coffee before bed can keep you up for quite some time. However, this goes for any drink that contains caffeine. So, even certain teas (like black teas) can produce a similar effect. As a general rule of thumb, you want at least a six-hour window between your last caffeinated beverage and your bedtime.

Drugs and smoking

Drugs can often lead to poor sleep quality and frequent nighttime disturbances. This is especially true for very addictive drugs, as you can start to experience withdrawal symptoms while trying to fall asleep or even during the night. A similar principle applies to nicotine, especially among people who smoke one or more packs a day. On top of that, things such as throat irritation, the poignant smell of cigarettes, and a large amount of smoke in the room can make falling asleep quite difficult.

Sleep disorders

Sleep disorders by design lower your overall sleep quality and duration. So, it's not a stretch to say that they lower your REM sleep as well. When it tackling a sleep disorder, the methods can vary quite a bit. Some sleep disorders can be dealt with by making lifestyle changes or getting certain medications while others require much longer and specialised procedures.

But regardless of which kind of sleep disorder you might be dealing with, it's always best to consult your GP and even get a sleep study done. This is because quite a few sleep disorders can seem similar at a glance while requiring different treatments. So, note that the following section is just for educational purposes and doesn't substitute a trip to the doctor.

Sleep apnea

Both obstructive and central sleep apnea can result in frequent nighttime disturbances, making it difficult to get consistent sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea can be especially worrisome as the person affected can sound like they're choking.

So, if you or your loved one exhibit very loud snoring or sound like you're choking at night, getting a sleep apnea test could be the right move. In terms of treatment, you'll likely be advised to use a CPAP machine and make certain lifestyle changes, like sleeping on your back or losing weight.

Nightmare disorder

Since dreams frequently take place in the REM sleep phase, nightmares are also on the menu. And while there's nothing wrong with having a nightmare from time to time, excessively frequent nightmares could be a sign of nightmare disorder. When it comes to avoiding these nightmares, certain lifestyle changes can help (like reducing stress) however, seeing a professional is highly advised. After all, this is a proper sleep disorder and not just a string of bad luck with nightmares.

Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most well-known sleep disorders, however, that doesn't mean that treating insomnia is any easier than with other sleep disorders. And since insomnia directly lowers your overall sleep duration, even leading to sleep deprivation, it's an obvious concern for your REM sleep.

When it comes to treatment, options can vary far and wide. This is because insomnia can just be a sign of a different underlying condition. In these cases, said condition needs to be dealt with first. However, other times, it's just a temporary issue that can be fixed by bettering your sleep hygiene.

REM sleep behaviour disorder

We know that when REM sleep occurs, your experience muscle paralysis. This is so that you don't start punching your partner every time you have a nightmare. However, people suffering from REM sleep behaviour disorder often don't have muscle paralysis even when in REM sleep.

This is why they can actually end up acting out their dreams. And it's important to note that this is distinct from sleepwalking. Most of the time, this disorder will just have the person talking in their sleep and maybe moving around in bed. However, there's also a legitimate risk of hurting yourself or others. So, seek out a professional if you think you might be affected by this disorder.

How to get enough REM sleep?

An image of a woman with a sleep mask sleeping on her back

So, in the end, how do you get enough REM sleep? Well, that's rather easy – just get enough sleep in general and avoid all of the things that can lessen your REM sleep duration. So, let's talk about how you can improve your sleep in general.

And if you have any tricks of your own, make sure to leave them in the comments!

Good sleep habits

Certain habits are extremely helpful when it comes to prolonging your sleep duration and improving your sleep quality. For example, having a consistent bedtime routine. Be it 10 minutes of meditation, light stretches, or listening to a chapter of your favourite audiobook, rituals can help ease anxiety at night.

And by going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, you help your circadian clock stay on track. This means that falling asleep naturally will become easier and you might even find that you start waking up without an alarm clock – which is quite a bit plus!

And we could keep going on and on. All of these practices fall under the term of proper sleep hygiene and it's something we've written countless articles about. So, just stick with The Sleep Advisors and you'll know what's what!

Tracking your sleep quality

While this is by no means something everyone needs to do, it does give you some interesting insight. This is because having a good sleep tracker means you can keep track of your sleep stages and see whether anything needs extra attention. After all, it can be difficult to gauge whether you're getting enough REM sleep by yourself as there are many other conditions that can also lead to brain fog or migraines!

However, the safest option here is to see a professional and have a sleep study done. This is especially true if you think you might have a sleep disorder or that your immune system is acting up in weird ways. After all, understanding sleep is incredibly complex, so, it's always best to have a professional on hand.

But if it's not too serious and you just want a device that will tell you approximately how much sleep you need and/or whether you woke up in the middle of the night, a tracker could be a good option.

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, how much REM sleep do you need? Just get the recommended sleep duration for your age (typically 7-9 hours) and avoid doing things that will shorten your REM sleep cycle and you should be fine. But if there's anything you think we've missed about REM sleep, let us know down in the comments.

Spread the word

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet

About the author

Alex Petroviฤ‡
Sleep Consultant
A CPD certified Sleep Consultant with more than 2000 hours of research into all the different ways we can get a great night's sleep. As a former insomniac, I know how difficult life can be without a nightly recovery and I love that I get to share everything I've learned with you all. So hopefully we can all sleep soundly!
Don't Miss Out!
Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and moreโ€ฆ
@thesleepadvisors
'The Luxe Cooling Mattress' by @emmasleepuk  is award-winning!

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Mattress for Side Sleepers'๐Ÿ†

Click the link in the bio for more ๐Ÿ“–๐Ÿฅธ

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #emmasleepuk  #mattressreviews
'Award Winning Softness' by @hypniauk 

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Soft Mattress'๐Ÿ†

Click the link in bio to read the full review ๐Ÿ“–๐Ÿฅธ

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #hypnia #mattressreviews

#
The Sleep Advisors cover all the benefits of Panda Products ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿผ

Click the link in the bio for more๐Ÿ”—

#ษชษดsแด›แด€ส€แด‡แด‡สŸs #instareelsdaily #PandaMattress #thesleepadvisorsuk
The awards continue! @silentnightbeds 'Just Breathe Eco Comfort' receives one today ๐Ÿฅณ

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Pocket Sprung Mattress'๐Ÿ†

#thesleepadvisors #silentnightbeds #thesleepadvisors #comfortmattress
Details are key for TheSleepAdvisors... especially for those close-ups ๐Ÿ‘

We look at every nook and cranky to capture every detail when reviewing mattress and bedding๐ŸŽฅ

For our Latest reviews head over to our website via the link in the bio ๐Ÿ”—

#thesleepadvisors #mattressreview #thesleepadvisorsuk
If you want Luxury check out @nectarsleep Premier Hybrid Mattress!๐Ÿ˜Ž

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Luxury Mattress'๐Ÿ†

Click the link in bio to read the full review ๐Ÿ“–๐Ÿฅธ

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #nectarsleep #mattressreviews
We know how hard it is to find the best mattress online!๐Ÿง

Don't worry, The Sleep Advisors are here to solve your problem and it has never been easier to compare mattresses thanks to our Mattress Comparison Tool!

Click the Link in our bio to find the mattress brand that suits your individual needs ๐Ÿคฉ
For all your bedding needs, TheSleepAdvisors have you covered! ๐Ÿ˜

From Price to Quality, we look at all aspects to enable you to make the best purchase for your needs.

#ษชษดsแด›แด€ส€แด‡แด‡สŸs #instareels #sleepadvisorsuk #BeddingEssentials #TheSleepAdvisors
Sent an embarrassing text? Just say you were asleep ๐Ÿ˜†

Turns out, our brains can get so wired even while catching Z's that we end up sending messages without even waking up! 

 #funfacts #sleepadvisors #TheSleepAdvisors  #DidYouKnow #DidYouKnowThis
Mattress Toppers are key! ๐Ÿ”‘  They can bring your mattress to life. Want to learn more? 

The Sleep Advisors have got you covered!๐Ÿ˜Ž

#ษชษดsแด›แด€ส€แด‡แด‡สŸs #instareelsdaily #instareels #sleepadvisorsuk #reelsofinstagram #MATTRESSTOPPERS
Close button

Don't Miss Out!

Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and moreโ€ฆ

By submitting this form, you are opting into our mailing lists.
See our privacy policy.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.