Everyone loves to sleep. But did you know that according to government research, “an estimated 50-70 million adults in the United States have chronic sleep or wakefulness disorders?” Perhaps if we understood sleep better, we’d know what steps we can take to ensure a restful night every night.
Take the Zeel Sleep Quiz and find out just how much you actually know about your nightly routine!
Then, reward yourself with a Zeel Sleep Massage to gently lull you into a state of relaxation.
1) What is the optimal length for a nap during the day?
1. 20 minutes
2. 60 minutes
3. 90 minute
4. Either A or B
5. Either A or C
2) What is the minimum number of hours of sleep the average adult should get per night?
1. 5 hours
2. 6 hours
3. 7 hours
4. 8 hours
3) What is the latest hour you should drink a caffeinated beverage to avoid shortening your sleep?
1. 12 hours before bedtime
2. 8 hours before bedtime
3. 6 hours before bedtime
4. 4 hours before bedtime
5. It doesn’t matter when you drink caffeine
4) Which of the following oils is known to promote better sleep?
1. Olive oil
2. Lavender oil
3. Mineral oil
4. Almond oil
5) True or false: Nightmares can be a sign of mental or physical problems.
1. True
2. False
6) What is the name of the “sleep hormone”?
1. Melatonin
2. Estrogen
3. Adrenalin
4. Leptin
7) Which of the following can disrupt sleep?
1. Pets
2. Light from electronic devices
3. Room temperature
4. All of these
8) Which of the following can promote better sleep?
1. Massage
2. Exercise
3. Counting backward
4. All of these
9) How long does the average pillow last?
1. 6 months
2. 1 year
3. 2 years
4. 5 years
5. 10 years
10) Which of the following animals sleeps the most?
1. Cat
2. Sloth
3. Koala
4. Elephant
Answers
1. E
There are two good options for nap length, depending on your goals. A 15-20 minute nap is sometimes called a “power nap” because it’s a good way to quickly gain energy. When you sleep for 15-20 minutes, you quickly regain energy. Sleeping for 90 minutes allows you to go through an entire sleep cycle, including REM sleep (the dream phase), so you awaken refreshed, with a minimum of wake-up time. Sleeping 60 minutes will interrupt REM sleep, making you groggy when you wake up (not the intended purpose of a nap)
2. C
Experts recommend a minimum of 7 hours of sleep a night for adults, though 40% of Americans don’t manage to get that much sleep on a regular basis.
3. C
Drink your last cup of caffeine (or your last piece of caffeinated food, like chocolate) 6 hours or more before bedtime to avoid shortening your sleep.
4. B
Lavender oil contains compounds that calm the nervous system. Other oils that induce sleep include ylang ylang and vetiver.
5. A
True. Nightmares can indicate stress, depression, or a bad reaction to medication. They can also interrupt sleep, which has negative effects on health as well.
6. A
The hormone that induces sleep is called melatonin. Some people take melatonin supplements as sleep aids.
7. D
All of these can disrupt sleep, according to sleep experts. Keep the temperature in your bedroom cool, remove electronic devices like cell phones and TVs, and dissuade the house critters from sharing your bed.
8. D
All of these can potentially promote better sleep. A sleep massage (as you might expect) is a good option to promote shuteye. One caveat with exercise: working out right before bedtime can keep you awake, though exercise earlier in the day can help you get to sleep.
9. C
The average pillow lasts two years. Decrepit pillows can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.
10. C
Sloths might get a bad rap for being lazy, and we’ve all heard of cat naps. But koalas are the adorable champions of sleep, slumbering for up to 22 hours a day. Elephants, on the other hand, sleep for only four hours a night.
