Sleeping Beauty
September 28, 2016

Dancers can train themselves to do many things—dance on pointe, bust out 32 fouettés, lift other dancers. But can a dancer, or anyone for that matter, train herself to need less sleep? According to sleep expert Dr. Sigrid Veasey, the answer is no. Studies show that people don’t actually adjust to decreased sleep. The deprivation just distorts their cognitive functioning and ability to assess their own sleep needs.

The average healthy adult needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, and teens need 8 to 10. Stimulation from caffeine, exercise or screen time can negatively impact a person’s sleep-wake cycle, especially later in the day.

Photo: Thinkstock

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