How long do I need to sleep at night?
Burning the midnight oil? Whether you’re working late, up all night with your kids, or starting early to get that morning workout in, the question on many minds is how much sleep do I actually need every night?
There is a big difference between the amount of sleep you can get by with and the amount you need to function optimally. The average adult sleeps less than seven hours per night. In today’s fast-paced society, six or seven hours of sleep may sound pretty good. In reality, though, it’s a recipe for chronic sleep deprivation. What is just - if not more - important than sleep quantity is sleep quality.
Just because you’re able to operate on six or seven hours of sleep doesn’t mean you wouldn’t feel a lot better and get more done if you spent an extra hour or two in bed.
While sleep requirements vary slightly from person to person, most healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. Children and teens need even more. And despite the notion that our sleep needs decrease with age, most older people still need at least 7 hours of sleep. Since older adults often have trouble sleeping this long at night, daytime naps can help fill in the gap.
How will you know when you aren’t getting enough sleep? If you’re getting less than eight hours of sleep each night, chances are you’re sleep deprived. How is it possible to be sleep deprived without knowing it? Most of the signs of sleep deprivation are subtle. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for when considering sleep deprivation:
Need an alarm clock in order to wake up on time
Rely on the snooze button
Have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning
Feel sluggish in the afternoon
Get sleepy in meetings, lectures, or warm rooms
Get drowsy after heavy meals or when driving
Need to nap to get through the day
Fall asleep while watching TV or relaxing in the evening
Feel the need to sleep in on weekends
Fall asleep within five minutes of going to bed
Your time sleeping must be restful, which can be challenging especially during times like these. Lately COVID-19 has been taking over outside our homes and inside our minds. We’re trying to focus on keeping up with our regular day-to-day schedules as much as possible while keeping healthy and social distancing in every way possible. We’re washing our hands for 20+ seconds but we’re forgetting about the other significant way to maintain our health and take care of ourselves: sleep. Join us and prioritize your sleep during the pandemic.