This Tool Calculates the Exact Time You Should Go to Bed
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Just a quick redirect here to let you in on this nifty sleep calculator a friend of mine just sent over, with about 55 exclamation points. (She and I are both rather sleep deprived new moms, so the thought of sleeping on our own terms does, in fact, warrant a few !!!. Moving on.)
The calculator works in two ways: You can either enter the time you need to wake up, and it’ll spit out the optimal time for you to go to bed. Or, you can ask it to calculate the time you should get up if you go to bed right now.
An example: Say I need to wake up at 8 a.m. According to this calculator, I should go to bed at either 11 p.m., 12:30 a.m., 2 a.m. or 3:30 a.m.
Why so many options, you ask? Because it’s counting backwards by sleep cycles, and by falling asleep at one of the recommended times, you stand more of a chance of waking up between sleep cycles, which leaves you feeling refreshed instead of groggy.
Bear in mind that the “go to bed” time is when you should actually be falling asleep, so you should be physically getting into bed 15 or so minutes before the recommended time. And while you’re at it, throw on a pair of socks to help you doze off sooner.
How ever you get there, here’s to a good night of sleep, friends. (Except not for me, because my five-month-old certainly hasn’t gotten the memo.)
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