What Is a Healthy Night’s Sleep? Three Critical Criteria

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted May 1, 2025

We’ve all heard the advice about how important getting enough sleep is to your health. Heck, I have even given this advice countless times.

But here’s what the so-called sleep experts aren’t telling you—that perfectly uninterrupted eight hours of sleep they keep preaching about?

It’s a myth.

In fact, if you wake up several times during the night, you might sleep more normally than those smug folks who claim they sleep like logs.

Sleeping isn’t the peaceful, flat-line experience mainstream medicine wants you to believe.

Instead, it’s more like a biological roller coaster, complete with ups and downs and even some perfectly normal middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks.

Here’s what’s actually going on while you’re catching those Z’s…

Every night, your body cycles through different sleep stages every 90 minutes.

Think of it as your personal sleep symphony, with deep sleep taking the spotlight in the first half of the night and REM sleep (when we dream) stealing the show in the second half.

But here’s the kicker—and it’s something those sleep specialists rarely mention…

You’re supposed to wake up briefly between these cycles. That’s right, waking up four to five times during the night is entirely normal.

And if you’re a senior? You might wake up even more often.

Many folks don’t even remember these wake-ups. They’re usually so brief that your brain doesn’t bother keeping a record.

Now, let’s talk about that golden rule of eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.

The truth is, good sleep isn’t about hitting some arbitrary number. It’s about quality over quantity. You might be getting better rest with seven hours of natural, cyclic sleep than someone forcing themselves to lie in bed for nine hours straight.

Here’s what really matters when it comes to healthy sleep:

• Being able to drift off within about 30 minutes of hitting the pillow
• Not spending long periods wide awake during the night (those brief wake-ups don’t count!)
• Waking up feeling refreshed instead of like you’ve been hit by a truck

So, the next time someone brags about sleeping straight through the night without moving a muscle, you can smile knowingly. Because now you know that their “perfect sleep” isn’t always so perfect after all.

Remember, your body knows what it’s doing. Those natural wake-ups are part of your sleep architecture, not something that needs to be “fixed” with risky sleeping pills.

P.S. This safe, natural sleep solution costs just PENNIES a day!

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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