The Importance of Deep Sleep
I was scrolling through my news feed, which is part of my morning routine of reading after enjoying my homemade espresso, and I finally read an article that stated that deep sleep is the most important stat in health.
Now, I have read a lot of articles that talk about sleep cycles of REM, light sleep, waking up, deep sleep, etc. saying that we go through these cycles many times per night. However, in my personal experience, deep sleep only happens at the very start of my sleep cycle. I wear a Google watch and have tracked my sleep stats for years, and it is so rare that I go into deep sleep the remainder of the night.
One thing is clear - if I do not get at least 45 minutes of deep sleep immediately after falling asleep, I experience brain fog and fatigue all day long. My cravings for crunchy snacks increases, my hunger is difficult to satiate, and I find it hard to concentrate.
Here are my secrets to achieving the perfect deep sleep: I keep a strict sleep schedule, winding down screen time by 8 PM, having my licorice root w/ schisandra berries and elderberries tea when needed, reading starting around 9:15 PM after my Holy Basil tincture with Ashwagandha, and starting my bed time routine by 10 PM. Then, I wake up at 7 AM during the week and on weekends do not sleep past 8:30 AM. Of course there are exceptions, such as when I enjoy a late concert, soccer game or comedy show with my husband or if we are out of town. During those exceptions, my sleep score plummets and I am not mentally fresh the next day, taking me about a week to get back my high deep sleep stats. We use blackout shades so we don't wake up at 6 AM when the sun rises and I wear ear plugs so I don't get woken up by Leo, our 13-year old Miniature Pincer that wakes up early and walks around the house with his nails clip-clopping on the floor.
On the science side, deep sleep is crucial because our bodies perform tasks it never does when awake: helps your body regulate blood sugar, helps your body improve its immune function, helps improve cognitive function and memory, and allows your body to eliminate waste material from your brain, possibly helping to protect against dementia. Pacheco, Danielle, "How Much Deep Sleep Do You Need." Sleep Foundation July 6, 2025, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/stages-of-sleep/deep-sleep May 17, 2026.
DISCLAIMER: The information on this blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. EverChange, LLC provides holistic nutrition and lifestyle education and does not replace the care of a licensed medical professional. Always consult with your physician or qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, medications, or health routine, or before interpreting any lab results or test data.
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