Sleep is probably the one thing that almost everyone can agree on loving. However, very few of us get as much as we’d like, whether it’s due to insomnia, busy schedules or just the inability to get off of Facebook and go to bed. The struggle to get some rest has probably led you to follow sleep strategies like counting imaginary sheep, which, as it turns out, doesn’t actually work. For a better night’s sleep, read about six common myths that have been debunked.

Insomniacs Can’t Fall Asleep

It’s commonly thought that insomnia means you can’t fall asleep, however, that’s only one of the symptoms. The hospital Cleveland Clinic says that aside from this most commonly known problem, waking up in the middle of the night, not falling back to sleep easily, waking up several times throughout the evening, and not feeling refreshed in the morning are all symptoms.

Older People Don’t Need As Much Sleep

The hospital writes that sleep patterns change with age, but that doesn't change how many hours we need. Older adults may experience more interrupted sleep throughout the night, however naps are a good way to supplement any gaps.

Sleeping During The Day Will Keep You Up At Night

Remember when your mother told you not to take that afternoon nap because it would make you stay up well past bedtime? Well, turns out that mom was wrong. According to Shape, napping can actually help you be more alert, improve memory and enhance performance, as long as it’s not later in the evening. Naps should be no longer than 30 minutes and only be taken if you don’t already have sleep troubles.

Evening Exercise Will Give You Too Much Energy

If you always lie in bed awake, then the increase in body temperature resulting from working out could be a problem, reports the magazine. However, if you don’t rely on counting sheep to fall asleep then hitting the gym after work should be fine as long as there is plenty of time to cool off and unwind before hitting the hay.

Count Sheep To Help Yourself Fall Asleep

Researchers recruited 41 people with insomnia to try out this common remedy. Business Insiderreports participants had a harder time falling asleep when counting sheep compared to doing nothing at all.

Watching TV Before Bed Will Keep You Awake

The results on this one are a bit mixed, according to Vice. Science has established that blue light can change your sleeping pattern, but there is no evidence that says watching TV is definitely going to keep you up at night. While it’s not generally advised, one sleep specialist believes it’s a matter of preference. "I'm the only sleep specialist I know of who says it's OK to fall asleep with the television on," Dr. Michael Breus, PhD and dubbed The Sleep Doctor, says in Vice. "People have a pretty good understanding of the level of sleep they got — from an objective standpoint, falling asleep with the TV on might not be the best, but if you're waking up and feeling refreshed, without aches and pains, those are the measures that matter."

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