Sleep - How Much Do You Need and How Much Do You Get?

drmarctagon

I'm not asking the general or clinical answer. Because we're all different, I want to hear about you personally.


For me, 6-7 hrs is optimal. I get 5 hours (from 11PM-4AM or 12AM-5AM) and usually a nap during my commute to or from work or both.

deetails26

I am happiest with 8, but usually get closer to 6-7

crabbybrianna

I need 8. I go to bed early to make sure I get that much. I don’t like feeling tired all day from lack of sleep.

singingflutelady

I need at least 8 which I am now getting because of Zopliclone. Without it I get around 3 and that combined with being chronically ill made me a walking zombie lol

SabAteNine

It depends on the lights-out moment. I've had years of burning the midnight oil and was generally lethargic, regardless of whether I got 2, 5, 7 or 11 hours of sleep. I still have 5 alarms on my phone.

But recently, I cut out carbs and that had an almost-immediate effect on my sleep cycle as well. I go to bed at 12 because I am much more tired and ready for the ZZZ in the evening, wake up at 6:30 without a clock and I'm perfectly fine. Except on weekends, when that makes me angry.

whitpauly

6-7 hours does me good,too much and I'm groggy all day! Unfortunately lately my 6-7 have been choppy

LivingtheLeanDream

If I get 7 I'm ok, I sometimes get 8 and then I feel terrific, last night I got my 8 hrs and today I'm on fire

sardelsa

I love 6-7, most of the time I get less though. I am a bad sleeper. Lots of wake ups and tossing and turning.

Tacklewasher

I need 7-8 on a regular basis. In bed by 9 and up around 5.

toxikon

8 is my sweet spot for sure.

Froggyh

I need about 9 hours (I know, I'm weird ), but often I get closer to 7-8 on weeknights.

Lean59man

If you need an alarm to wake up on time you are not getting enough.

ladybug4233

Froggyh wrote: »

I need about 9 hours (I know, I'm weird ), but often I get closer to 7-8 on weeknights.

That's not weird. I need about 9 too!! But I get 7-8.

JodiRoss71

I guess i get about 7 but no matter what i get seems like its never enough....

Mikkimeow

I have noticed that I do well with between 7-8. I can function on 5-8. Anything less sucks. I work some nights on call at a hospital so nights like last night I only got four hours. I am a zombie

RAinWA

I'd love to get 7-8 but am currently operating on 4-5 a night. I think I may sleep all weekend.

Build4Longevity

The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9hrs for adults, but I generally get 5-6 hrs during the week depending on when I go to bed and 7-9hrs on the weekends.

DomesticKat

I need 8, but I get 5 or 6 most nights.

orangegato

I want 8, but get 5-6 on average and less than 5 sometimes.

Maxxitt

I find that 8-8.5 hours is pretty optimal and that's what I aim for. I am retired, and so I don't have an early schedule. For a while, I had morphed my day into going to bed around 2 AM and sleeping until 10 or 10:30. Same eight hours, right? But with that schedule I was sedentary more hours during the day (I don't usually do much in the evening). So I am now getting to bed by midnight and up a bit after 8, which adds a couple of active hours and I feel a lot better.

fb47

I usually get 7 straight, but I wonder when they recommend 7 to 9 hours of sleep, do they mean consecutively or it can be split throughout the day?

Build4Longevity

fb47 wrote: »

I usually get 7 straight, but I wonder when they recommend 7 to 9 hours of sleep, do they mean consecutively or it can be split throughout the day?

7-9hrs range each day.

fb47

Build4Longevity wrote: »

fb47 wrote: »

I usually get 7 straight, but I wonder when they recommend 7 to 9 hours of sleep, do they mean consecutively or it can be split throughout the day?

7-9hrs range each day.

But i doesn't have to be consecutive....for example you sleep let's say 3 hours (from 1pm to 4pm) and sleep for 4 hours (from 9pm to 1am).

Build4Longevity

fb47 wrote: »

Build4Longevity wrote: »

fb47 wrote: »

I usually get 7 straight, but I wonder when they recommend 7 to 9 hours of sleep, do they mean consecutively or it can be split throughout the day?

7-9hrs range each day.

But i doesn't have to be consecutive....for example you sleep let's say 3 hours (from 1pm to 4pm) and sleep for 4 hours (from 9pm to 1am).

That's fine if you want to split it up. However, the main thing we should watch for is our energy level each day. If your energy level is up and consistent each day, then you are are getting enough sleep. If you find yourself nodding off in a meeting, low energy etc., you are not getting enough sleep. Naps are good if you can get one each day. Particularly for those of us who gets 6hrs or less. Keep in mind the amount of sleep and alertness/energy level varies from person to person. There are people that only need 6hrs of sleep each day and there energy level is through the roof. However, most of us do need 7-9 hrs a daily, but it doesn't have to be straight 7-9hrs each day. It can be broken up each day. For example sleep 6hrs here and add 2hrs nap later. The only problem with that is the nap may keep you up later and end up not getting enough sleep the next day. That depends on when you take that nap.

stanmann571

More, Not enough.

7-8, 6ish

seltzermint555

I need 7-8 and get 8 most nights. Sometimes on the weekend I'll sleep 10 hours though, and feel great.

Merlotmom16

I need a solid 7-8. If I go through a period where I get less or it is a less restful sleep then I can usually catch up with a longer period of 9-10 hours over the weekend. My body seems to know what I need and when. I love not setting an alarm and just waking up when I am refreshed.

HoneyBadger302

I need 8-9 most nights (of actual sleep). I can have a night, maybe two with less than that here and there an be okay, but if it lasts any longer I just can't function - been that way since kindergarten, I'm 39 now, doubt it will change LOL.

On any less (say, 7.5/night) I start getting VERY cranky, short tempered, so tired I can damn near fall asleep standing up, and it's all I can do to not fall asleep at my desk. Bump up over that magic 8 hours a night and I'm golden....energetic, very even tempered, not fighting off sleep...

MrsPinterest34

I need 8 hours to be well rested and feel fabulous. During my TOM I'm restless all night and only get about 6-7 and some nights I get about 5 hours and my body does not like that. If I get less than 6 hours of sleep I make it up by taking a nap in the day time or go to bed as early as 8-9pm.

corinasue1143

I function on 6, am happier with 7 to 8. Lately I've been sleeping 12-2, then about 5-7:30, a walking zombi.
One night this week, my neighbor put his dogs inside overnight. 8 good hours that night and a beautiful, productive day the next day.

saragd012

I aim to get 8 a night, but I average just about 7 in reality. On the weekends I usually get 9, which feels AMAZING. Though on vacation I start feeling groggy with too many days at 9+ hours in a row so I guess 7-8 really is my ideal.