How to Tell When Someone Is Sleeping Comfortably

The only verifiable way to tell if someone is sleeping well is to monitor her brain waves, take note of how long she stays in each of the five phases of sleep, and see how closely it matches the brain activity of another person who claims to be well-rested. However, there are a myriad of factors that affect whether a person sleeps comfortably. There are psychological and physiological reasons for poor sleeping quality, and many are perceptible to an outside observer.

Instructions

• 1

  Watch a person's movements. Tossing and turning can imply that a person cannot attain a deep level of sleep. It can also mean the person is suffering from a sleep disorder. For example, a person may suffer from restless legs syndrome, characterized by leg discomfort that is relieved by moving the legs, which can disrupt sleep through periodic limb movements. Another sleep disorder that can lead to tossing and turning is circadian rhythm disorder, which means a person's sleeping is not naturally regulated, leading to dysfunctional sleep patterns. Sleeping disorders can produce uncomfortable sleep through insomnia, which refers to a person's inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.

• 2

  Listen to how a person sounds when they sleep. Deep, even breathing occurs during comfortable, normal sleep patterns. If a person is snoring, or breathing irregularly or loudly, it could mean that her air passage is not adequately open. Reasons for this include an uncomfortable pillow or sleeping position, or obstructive sleep apnea, which mean that pauses occur in breathing because of a blocked or narrow airway. If a person is breathing irregularly, she may suffer from general sleep apnea, which often leads to poor quality of sleep.

• 3

  Ask the person about his sleeping experience the next day. Questions to ask him include how long it took him to fall asleep, how many times he woke up, and if he is experiencing any muscle or joint discomfort. A person's anecdotal experience should be factored in with observed sleeping behavior, as a person may not be able to accurately recall how well he slept. Joint and muscle might indicate that a person requires a different mattress or pillow to suit his individual needs.