Can I get a high ZQ and still have poor sleep?
Yes, it is possible to have a higher than average ZQ, but still have fairly poor sleep quality. There are several reasons for this.
First, ZQ is a very personal number, much like your weight. My weight tells me how I’m doing and I can use it as a gauge against what’s typical for people like me, but wouldn’t mean much to you. Some people need more sleep than typical, others need less. If you get a better than average ZQ, but still feel groggy, maybe typical isn’t enough for you.
Second, it is true that Zeo does not record what are called micro-arousals -short periods of wake-like activity. In fact, Zeo is designed to records periods of wake that last at least 2 minutes – the periods of wake that we’re more likely to remember. It is possible to sleep for a long time and experience hundreds of such arousals and still get a pretty high ZQ. But all those arousals can add up to a night that leaves you feeling unrefreshed.
Third, ZQ is largely composed of total sleep time, with bonuses awarded for more restorative sleep, and some points taken away for waking during the night. Therefore, getting 12 hours of relatively low quality sleep could get a higher ZQ than 7 hours of very good sleep. Also, keep in mind that getting what’s typical could leave you feeling tired – simply because, typically, people are sleep deprived and getting less than the 7-9 hours of good sleep that’s recommended.
Finally, waking unrefreshed and feeling tired during the day could be an indication of many things, including sleep deprivation or sleep disorders. If getting more sleep doesn’t help, or you have difficulty falling or staying asleep and feel unrested, it may be time to seek the advice of a sleep specialist who can help you make sure you’re getting healthy sleep.
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