Table of ContentsIdeal Time FrameSleep StagesFirst StageSecond StageThird StageFourth StagePoor Sleep Hygiene and Its ConsequencesCausesEffectsMemoryCognitive Performance and BehaviorConclusionSleep is one of the essential tasks of the body; we need sleep to function properly as living creatures. In fact, we spend about 25 years of our lives sleeping. Although good sleep hygiene is important for everyone, it is especially important among young people, who are still developing physically and mentally, as well as people who work in the public sector, such as soldiers and drivers bus. It is very important to have good sleep hygiene, because without sleep many harmful effects can occur, such as impaired memory, cognitive functions and reaction time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Ideal Duration Sleep isn't just about closing your eyes and lying down. The process of falling asleep and getting the full benefits of deep sleep is much more nuanced than that, and occurs in five different phases lasting, ideally, an average of 6 to 8 hours. However, many studies show that newborns and toddlers need significantly more sleep than adolescents and adults. Although no consensus was reached in a study led by Emily Sawyer, an attempt was made to define what exactly "long" and "short" sleep is in the context of the sleep of children aged 1 to 16 years old. According to his cross-sectional (n = 31) and longitudinal (n = 7) studies, the definition of short sleep is between 5 and 11 hours, and the definition of long sleep is between 8 and 14 hours. Stages of SleepFirst StageThe first stage lasts about 1 to 7 minutes and begins when you close your eyes and lie down on the pillow. During this phase, brain activity and eye movements are still very active. Additionally, it is easy to wake up due to disturbances or stimulation from the outside world. This stage, along with the second and third stages, is part of the non-rapid eye movement phase, or NREM phase, according to "What Happens to Your Body When You Sleep." Step Two As you continue to fall asleep, around 10 o'clock. Up to 25 minutes after the end of the first phase, brain activity begins to slow down and the eyes no longer move. Additionally, the brain's electrical activity slows even further, as shown by an electroencephalogram, or EEG. This test is used by neuroscientists as a way to monitor and possibly research brain activity, even during sleep. Stage Three The third stage of sleep involves falling asleep even deeper, 20 to 30 minutes after the second stage. During this stage, EEG activity slows further, producing delta waves. This is the last stage of the NREM phase of sleep, meaning your eyes don't move. At this point, the sleeper has slept for approximately 60 to 90 minutes, which is the general duration of a full NREM phase. Fourth Stage The final stage is the deepest stage of sleep. This stage lasts 40 to 90 minutes. Although this is the deepest stage of sleep, it is also the stage where the rapid eye movement phase of sleep, or REM sleep, occurs. In this phase, brain activity on an EEG resembles that of a waking brain. This is also when most dreams come true. During this stage, the muscles relax and eventually become paralyzed to..