This article sums up basically what I learned through my own experiences. For myself I've found that an uninterrupted chunk of sleep > a long sleep with waking

This article sums up basically what I learned through my own experiences. For myself I've found that an uninterrupted chunk of sleep > a long sleep with waking periods caused by interruptions (bathroom breaks, police sirens, etc.). It is for this reason that a year ago I adopted the usage of ear plugs when I go to sleep, and now I cannot sleep without them. I found a good brand of ear plugs that are comfortable and dampen ambient sounds (traffic, footsteps), but don't completely block out all sounds so I can hear my phone or the alarm clock. Another thing I've found is that usually when I can recall having a dream, I feel like I was able to achieve a deep level of sleep, and consequently I feel more refreshed that morning. I often don't remember details about the dream, and I even quickly forget what the dream was even about (or even if it was a nightmare) but the important thing is that my mind went into that dream state. I would value a 4 hour chunk of deep sleep more than 8 hours of sleep broken up by some interruptions.