We’ve heard about love languages, which can help us understand how we give and receive love, but it turns out there’s another “language” we should get familiar with: sleep languages. It’s a new way to classify different sleeping habits and understanding yours could help you get better quality rest. Sleep psychologist Dr. Shelby Harris worked with the meditation app Calm to come up with the five sleep languages that categorize sleeping habits based on the obstacles people face in getting a good night’s rest.
During her years of treating patients for sleep issues, Dr. Harris noticed that their sleep struggles tended to fall into one of five general categories. She explains, “Figuring out the primary thing that gets in the way of you getting good sleep can give you a clear idea of what you might want to focus on first.” Some people may find that they fit into more than one of the sleep languages, which are:
- The “Words of Worry” sleeper - These folks have a busy mind that won’t shut off and their anxious thoughts keep them from falling asleep or wake them up throughout the night. For this sleep language, Dr. Harris suggests doing a pre-bedtime routine 30 minutes to an hour before bed including calming things like a sleep meditation and avoiding things like doomscrolling social media.
- The “Gifted” sleeper - They can fall asleep almost anywhere at any time, no matter their surroundings. It sounds like a great thing, right? But it can be a problem if they’re excessively sleepy, like say behind the wheel.
- The “Routine Perfectionist” sleeper - This type likes to follow a strict sleep schedule and pre-bedtime routine and may feel anxious if they can’t, like when they’re traveling or sleeping away from home.
- The “Too Hot to Handle” sleeper - If you wake up sweating under the covers, this is your sleep language. It’s common for women experiencing perimenopause or menopause to be this type of sleeper and turning down the air to between 60 and 68-degrees can help.
- The “Light as a Feather” sleeper - These people get enough sleep but still wake up tired because they aren’t getting deep, restful sleep. Dr. Harris suggests they focus on improving sleep regularity, which can boost sleep quality.
Source: Well and Good