Questions about sleep, health benefits, how much and how?

eclare87

How much do you sleep? Are you happy with the amount that you do? If you sleep more than you used to, have you noticed any health benefits? And how did you get yourself to sleep more?

I'm currently trying for 7 hours but it's hard because I like to stay up late. I think it's mostly a mental thing because I actually do feel tired some of the times I just don't want to sleep because I feel like I might miss something or I have something better to do like surf the web or talk on the phone so I fight it! haha But we all know sleep is so good for us, especially when we are trying to be healthy.

Also does anyone have any experience with having to go to sleep pretty quickly after exercise classes? I have to go to bed early because of my work schedule, so on some nights of the week, if I want to take Bodycombat for example, that would mean going to bed about an hour and a half after the class. That leaves me just barely enough time to shower and eat dinner. And because I just took a class I'm usually wide awake for at least three hours after the fact.

Any tips and thoughts about getting shut eye?

eclare87

just gonna bump myself

spazofthedead

I think I might be slightly outside of normal, but I get 8.5-9 hours of sleep almost every night. Some nights the quality is better than others, but for the most part I'm in bed by 10-10:30 and up by 7:00 or 7:30.

I actually think I wake up more easily if I got less sleep. But then it catches up to me later in the day and I'm dragging my feet and trying not to sleep at my desk.

I don't have to force myself to sleep more. Even as a kid I'd be the one putting myself to bed when I was tired. I love to sleep, so I'll just crash whenever I'm tired.

nightsrainfall

Sleep is based on the individual. I have one friend who likes 9-10 hours, while I am more of a 7-8 hour person. I believe generally it’s healthy for adults to get somewhere between 6-9 hours per night. They say having a routine where one goes to bed & wakes up near the same time every day creates better sleep and is “healthier”. Some people can sleep right after exercise, others can’t. I can, but generally I’m so brain dead after work that no matter how hyped up my body is, my brain is still done for the day.

I go to bed around 8:30-9:30pm and wake up at 4:00-4:30am currently. I am averaging 7 hours of sleep and when I sleep in it’s only 9 hours total most times. I feel if I get under 6.5 hours that I’m kind in la-la-la and more susceptible to making mistakes, and if I sleep over 9 hours then I’m groggy and tired for the day just because my body perceives it to be too much sleep. Everyone has different ways of getting better sleep. I like a fan on and if I really can’t wind down mentally I take a non-non drowsy allergy pill. I am a light sleeper naturally the “drowsy” side effect cause me to sleep really hard. (Sometimes that’s good, sometimes, not so much). Plus my allergies often interfere with my sleep, so it works well for me.

emilyhwithlove

Well, I wake up at 4 am to get to school by 6, so it's pretty hard for me to get much sleep.. I try for 7 hours but usually end up getting 4 or 5, haha. I love sleep though so it's tough, and I usually end up "catching up" on the weekends with 12 hours.

YoungerNextYear59937

Okay. I'm a few years ahead of you, so this is what I know about sleep. I would say that being well rested affects me much more than any one factor. There have been times when I have been moody, emotional, hungry, angry, *****y, unhappy and I couldn't figure out the reason. Yes, I was tired, but THAT couldn't be the reason, right? I also had trouble thinking straight and remembering things. My mind would wander at work and I would start making mistakes. Then I would get a couple of good night's sleep and it was like I took a miracle drug!

I especially notice it when I'm on vacation. I feel so much better--all because I'm sleeping well. My husband has been trying to lose weight. He's been working hard, but staying the same weight. He hadn't been sleeping well either. Then he started sleeping well and at the end of the week had lost 5 pounds!

My theory about weight loss and not sleeping well is this--when you're tired your body struggles to function. It wants to hold on to every single fat cell and calorie because it feels it's in crisis. That's just my theory, I've never seen it anywhere. I know when I'm well rested I think better, am emotionally stable, get better workouts, am more fit, and LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

I have one night a week where I work out like you and barely have time to shower and eat dinner before going to bed. Most times I fall asleep pretty quickly. Sometimes not. And beware that demon crack that is called the INTERNET! I finally figured out that it was the internet stealing my life from me. I have cut back a lot and noticed I have more time to work out, cook healthy meals, play, spend time with the hubster, walk the dog, and oh yes, SLEEP!

Spanaval

There are health benefits to sleeping 6- 8 hours a day. I have a crappy sleeping 26 month old, and rarely manage more than 5, mostly interrupted. On good nights, I get about 3 hours uninterrupted. It has definitely turned my brain to mush. I am way more forgetful and mentally sluggish than I used to be. It makes a significant difference to my mental acuity when I get to sleep in.

Eve1972

My body likes a set 8 hours a night!

ChristinaOlliver

I like to get about 7 hours a night. I was like you before and would stay up late every night (normally past 2am) but I forced myself to start getting into bed early even if I didn't fall asleep right away, and now I've got myself into a good routine.

emmiexjay

i need as much as i can get.. but mines to help repair my already ill body.. (asthma and syatica)

eclare87

I got 7 hours today and yesterday but I still feel funky and lazy and like my schedule is out of whack. I guess I just need to keep at it.

Thanks for the tips!