Health
| Published Sunday, August 2, 2026 11:00 am |
By BrandpointThree sleep myths that could be keeping you awake
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| UNSPLASH |
| Consistent routine and environmental cues can optimize sleep health. |
Americans have never been more focused on optimizing their health. They wear devices that measure nearly every aspect of their day – from workouts and steps to heart rate and recovery – and increasingly turn to GLP-1 medications as part of the weight management journey.
Alongside these changes, experts are encouraging people to prioritize another key pillar of health: quality sleep, which plays an important role in overall well-being and can support healthy lifestyle habits.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30% of U.S. adults regularly get less than the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night
Dr. Stephanie Stahl, medical director at Indiana University Health, notes that many people still treat sleep as something they’ll fit in if there’s time. Stahl is the Sleep Medicine fellowship program director and associate professor at Indiana University School of Medicine as well as Natrol Sleep Science Advisory Board member. “Many people think of sleep as the first thing they can sacrifice when life gets busy. But sleep isn’t a luxury. It’s one of the most powerful tools we have to support our health, mental well-being and daily performance.”
That can be difficult in today’s always-on world. Packed schedules, constant notifications and late-night scrolling can all work against the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. In fact, 38% of adults say using their phone or tablet before bed to read the news or “doomscroll” makes their sleep somewhat or significantly worse
What sleep myths could be keeping you awake?
“One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that sleep starts when your head hits the pillow,” said Stahl. “The truth is that your body has been preparing for sleep all day. Your light exposure, activity, meals, stress and evening routine all influence how prepared your brain and body are for sleep.”
She describes this as your sleep ecosystem – the daily habits, routines and environmental cues that work together to influence your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. One of the most important players in that ecosystem is melatonin, a hormone your body naturally produces in response to darkness. Rather than forcing sleep, melatonin helps signal to your brain that it’s time to wind down
Stahl is helping to debunk three common sleep myths:
• Myth: Better sleep starts at bedtime
Stahl: “Great sleep starts the moment you wake up. Morning sunlight helps regulate your body’s internal clock and supports natural melatonin production later that evening.”
• Myth: I’ll catch up on sleep this weekend
Stahl: “Consistency matters more than catch-up sleep. Keeping a regular sleep and wake schedule (even on weekends) helps reinforce your body’s natural rhythm.”
• Myth: The eight hours you’re asleep are all that matter
Stahl: “The hour before bed matters, too. A consistent wind-down routine, like dimming the lights and avoiding screen time, helps prepare your brain and body for quality sleep.”
What small habits lead to better sleep?
The good news is that improving sleep doesn’t require overhauling your lifestyle. Stahl recommends focusing on a few consistent habits: Get outside for natural light early in the day, stay physically active, avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening, maintain a regular sleep schedule and create a cool, dark, quiet sleep environment
If travel, changing schedules or other temporary disruptions affect that rhythm, melatonin supplements can help support your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.Dr. Stephanie Stahl
When healthy habits need extra support that is safe
Healthy sleep habits are the foundation of better sleep, but even the best routines can’t account for everything. Travel, shift work, changing schedules, stress and age-related changes can all temporarily disrupt your body’s natural rhythm
It’s one reason more than 27% of U.S. adults report using melatonin supplements, making it one of the country’s most commonly used sleep supplements3. Melatonin is a well-studied naturally occurring hormone that plays a key role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. When used as directed, it is widely recognized as a safe, effective and non-habit-forming option for temporary sleep support. Backed by 30 years of scientific research and widespread use, melatonin is the No. 1 doctor recommended ingredient for sleep4, recognized by experts as a safe, reliable way to help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer*.
“Healthy sleep starts with healthy habits,” says Stahl. “Melatonin is a hormone your body naturally produces to help signal when it’s time to sleep. If travel, changing schedules or other temporary disruptions affect that rhythm, melatonin supplements can help support your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. The key is to think of it as one part of a broader sleep strategy, not a replacement for healthy habits.”
Because sleep challenges vary from person to person, some people may also benefit from ingredients such as magnesium glycinate, valerian root, GABA or L-theanine depending on their individual needs. Guided by leading sleep experts, including Stahl, Natrol develops science-backed sleep solutions designed to complement healthy sleep habits and support different sleep needs
The benefits of prioritizing sleep extend well beyond feeling rested – 88% of adults who are satisfied with their sleep, report they are flourishing, compared with just 47% of those who aren’t5. Better sleep isn’t just another wellness goal. It’s one of the strongest investments you can make in your overall health and well-being
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