The Sleep Cycle Made Simple

Full transcript

The Sleep Cycle Made Simple: Let's explore the four stages your body cycles through each night! Every night, your body moves through a repeating sleep cycle, cycling roughly every ninety minutes as you rest. Stage one, NREM 1, lasts just one to five minutes — the lightest sleep, as vital signs and metabolism begin to slow. Stage two, NREM 2, lasts ten to twenty minutes. Relaxation deepens, snoring may occur, and the sleeper wakes easily still. Stage three, NREM 3, the deepest sleep, lasts thirty to sixty minutes. Muscles relax fully, vital signs steady, and the body restores itself — sleepwalking may even occur. About ninety minutes in, REM sleep begins — rapid eye movement, shifting vital signs, rising blood pressure, and vivid, colorful dreams. The full circle completes, and this cycle repeats four to six times each night, guiding you gently from dusk to dawn.