Sleep is something we all do every night, yet many popular beliefs about it aren’t supported by research. Here are four widely shared ideas about sleep and what studies actually show.
1. Evening workouts don’t have to hurt your sleep Many people believe you should avoid exercise in the hours before bed because it will keep you awake. Research reviews published in sleep journals have found that, for most people, evening exercise—including vigorous workouts—does not negatively affect sleep onset or quality. If evening is the only time you can fit in a workout, that’s perfectly fine from a sleep perspective.
2. Alcohol before bed affects sleep quality A drink in the evening may make some people feel drowsy initially, but studies consistently show that alcohol consumed close to bedtime tends to disrupt sleep later in the night. It can reduce time spent in certain sleep stages and lead to more fragmented rest during the second half of the night.
3. Remembering dreams doesn’t tell you whether you slept well or poorly Some believe that recalling dreams means you had restless sleep, while others think it means you slept deeply. In reality, dream recall can happen after both uninterrupted and interrupted sleep periods. There is no reliable link between remembering dreams and overall sleep quality.
4. You almost certainly don’t swallow spiders in your sleep The idea that the average person eats several spiders a year while sleeping has circulated online for decades. There is no scientific evidence or documented cases to support this claim. Spiders generally avoid humans, people usually sleep with their mouths closed, and accidental swallowing of insects during sleep is considered extremely unlikely.
Everyone’s sleep patterns are different, and many factors—lifestyle, age, stress, and environment—play a role in how well people rest. Understanding which common beliefs are backed by research and which are not can help set realistic expectations.
If you have ongoing concerns about sleep, consider speaking with a qualified healthcare professional.