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Does Lying Down with Eyes Closed Count as Sleep?

What Happens When You Lie Down with Your Eyes Closed?

Lying down, closing your eyes, and just... being still. It feels like sleep sometimes, right? But is it actually the same thing? Not exactly — though it’s not totally useless either.

The Brain Doesn’t Fully Switch Off

When you lie down with your eyes closed but don’t fall asleep, your brain enters a state of quiet wakefulness. Think of it as "standby mode" — less intense than being fully alert, but still far from real sleep. Certain brain waves (alpha waves) take over, which can feel relaxing, but they’re not the deep delta waves we need for recovery.

So yeah, you're giving your body a break... but your brain's still chugging along.

Physical Rest vs. Sleep

Sure, your muscles relax, your heart rate slows a little, and your breathing gets lighter. That counts for something, no doubt. Especially if you've been on your feet all day or mentally burnt out.

But — and this is big — you’re not entering REM or deep sleep stages, the ones crucial for memory consolidation, healing, and hormone regulation. So... resting is nice, but sleep is king.

Can This Kind of Rest Still Be Helpful?

Micro-recovery Moments

Yep, it can still be beneficial, especially if you’re sleep-deprived. Short moments of lying quietly with your eyes closed can help reduce stress, improve mood, and even spark a bit of creativity.

Personal story: After pulling an all-nighter in college (finals week madness), I crashed on a couch and just laid there. Couldn’t fall asleep — too jittery. But 20 minutes of just zoning out with my eyes shut? It didn’t fix everything, but I swear it kept me from losing it during the exam.

Power Naps vs. Quiet Rest

That said, even a 10-minute nap goes way further than 30 minutes of “resting with eyes closed.” A nap shifts you into actual sleep cycles. So if you can sleep, even briefly — go for it.

But if you can’t? Don’t sweat it. Resting quietly still beats doomscrolling TikTok or pacing around your apartment.

Does It Help with Sleep Debt?

Here’s the thing: sleep debt is real — and unfortunately, just lying still doesn’t pay it back fully.

Sleep experts agree: partial rest helps you cope, but it doesn’t replace real sleep. Your brain and body need full-on sleep to reset fully. Quiet wakefulness might take the edge off, but it's like drinking water when you're starving — useful, but not the fix.

(Also, if you find yourself doing this a lot, might be worth looking at your sleep hygiene... or stress levels.)

Mental and Emotional Benefits of Lying Down Awake

Stress Reduction and Mindfulness

Interestingly, lying down with your eyes closed can trigger a relaxation response — especially if you focus on your breath or do nothing at all (which is harder than it sounds). It’s like a mini-meditation, accidental or not.

This kind of rest:

  • Lowers cortisol

  • Calms the nervous system

  • Sometimes helps you drift into actual sleep, eventually

It won’t solve insomnia, but it’s a helpful trick in your toolbox.

It Might Even Help Creativity

Some people — artists, writers, even scientists — report that dozing off but not quite sleeping leads to flashes of insight. Thomas Edison used to nap with a ball in his hand. When he drifted off and dropped it, the noise would wake him — catching him in that strange, creative limbo between wake and sleep.

So… Does It Count as Sleep or Not?

Well… sorta. Kinda. Not really?

If you’re talking biological recovery, then no — it’s not real sleep. Your body needs full sleep cycles for that. But if we’re talking mental decompression or quick reset, then sure, it counts for something. It’s better than nothing, especially if sleep isn't coming easy.

Bottom line?
Lying down with your eyes closed doesn’t replace sleep — but it’s still worth doing. Sometimes just slowing down is half the battle.

How much height should a boy have to look attractive?

Well, fellas, worry no more, because a new study has revealed 5ft 8in is the ideal height for a man. Dating app Badoo has revealed the most right-swiped heights based on their users aged 18 to 30.

Is 172 cm good for a man?

Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years)
14 Years112.0 lb. (50.8 kg)64.5" (163.8 cm)
15 Years123.5 lb. (56.02 kg)67.0" (170.1 cm)
16 Years134.0 lb. (60.78 kg)68.3" (173.4 cm)
17 Years142.0 lb. (64.41 kg)69.0" (175.2 cm)

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.