Misinformation about sleep often harms our habits more than it helps. Let’s bust five common sleep myths that might be keeping you from the rest you need. Myth The Truth (Expert Perspective) 1. You must get 8 hours of sleep. False. Individual sleep needs vary widely, typically falling between 7 and 9 hours. Focusing on a specific number often causes performance anxiety. Focus instead on feeling rested when you wake up naturally. 2. Older adults need less sleep. False. Older adults still need about 7–8 hours. However, as we age, sleep becomes lighter and more fragmented, meaning they often get less sleep, which can lead to fatigue. 3. Alcohol helps you sleep. False. Alcohol acts as a sedative, making you fall asleep quickly, but it severely disrupts the second half of the night, leading to fragmented, poor-quality REM and deep sleep. 4. Snoring is always harmless. False. As we discussed last week, loud, habitual snoring is the key sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a serious medical condition. 5. You can ‘catch up’ on sleep over the weekend. Partially False. While an extra few hours can help restore alertness, chronic sleep deprivation creates a sleep debt that cannot be fully repaid. Relying on weekend catch-up messes with your body’s rhythm (social jetlag) and has long-term health costs.