how much sleep do you really need?

[AllGold]

I've heard the stories as well as met a few people who claim to only need 3-5 hours a night. If true and there's nothing else to the story then those people are literally freaks. The norm is 7-8 hours.

I have always wanted to be one of those who only need 3-5 hours a night because I think sleep is a waste of time. But no getting around the fact that I really do need 7.5 hours.

mrbigstuff wrote:
for the OP's question, this is a HUGE topic of interest in the research world, with some theories showing that the modern construct of sleeping 8 hours in a row is not "natural" and that humans may have been meant to sleep twice per day and not all at once.

Interesting. How is the two per day theorized to be divided up?

I have also heard that our internal clocks are actually on a 25-hour day and that if we're isolated with no clocks or light/dark cues that we will still sleep for about 8 hours but do it an hour later every day (17 hours awake). That definitely describes my internal clock.

[RAMd®d]

For years, I was up at 0400 every day except most weekends, waking just before the alarm went off.

A few times I tried setting the alarm a little earlier and I still woke up before it went off. I always feel like I'be being cheated out of a few minutes sleep.

I haven't been able to sleep for 8ish hours or so for over 40 years. I wake up after five hours. I can go back to sleep now for another five. But eight straight though doesn't happen unless I've been up for 20 or so.

I'd like one of those little Star Trek gizmos to stick to my head and set for eight hours. Do that regularly for six months and see how it works out.

Left to my own devices, I'm up until 0400 and sleep until 0900. Then I stretch, yawn, and sleep until 1000 or sometimes 1200. For me, sleeping-in has almost always meant sleeping in two shifts, back to back.

Hitting the gym in earnest may sync me up with everybody I know. But there's something very relaxing about being awake in the late-to-early hours, in the quiet.

[Robert M]

RAM,

"there's something very relaxing about being awake in the late-to-early hours, in the quiet."

Tell me about it. Since I'm up so early 7 days a week, I take advantage of the time. Sip a cup of coffee. Read the paper. Catch up on TV. Enjoy a nice, slow, relaxed shave. Sit on my comfy chair and read a bit. Surf the web with my iPad. All long before I'm waking my wife up at 7:00 am during the week. Or, until she decides to get out of bed on the weekends.

Also the early hours come in handy on those weekends I'm working from home. I'm up normal time. Get started by 8:00 or so and work until my wife is ready to get her day started, i.e. midday. Typically, by that point, I've finished enough work that I'm satisfied with what I've accomplished and can spend the rest of the day relaxing.

Robert

[Ombligo]

Guess I'm one of those freaks RAM referred too. I go to bed around 10-11 and wake around 3am, so I average 4-5 hrs a night. Weekends are no different and I don't nap. I have not had or used an alarm at any point in my life. I do have sleep apnea that does not respond to a cpap. My doctor said medication is the next step but also said if I feel fine then to just go with it and skip the meds.

[graylocks]

AllGold wrote:
Interesting. How is the two per day theorized to be divided up?

The myth of the eight-hour sleep

[DP]

There you have it, space... It's all over the shop as to what constituents exactly how much sleep-and I mean restful, refreshing sleep-you need. The best thing is getting help the help you need for it. Proper sleep is too important not to...

[Fritz]

Buck wrote:
Depending on your job, you can always sleep extra during meetings.

or alternatively, try to stay awake

I'd like to get 5-6 and I'd be happy. But since switching from the music side of sound to the TV side, I now wake when I use to go to sleep. It blows...

[~Dan]

Done wrote:
For years I was fine on around 6 hours but in the last year I have notice if I don't get 7 1/2 to 8 hour my body just doesn't feel good. I don't know if it's a age thing or just because I'm getting a little more sleep now and the 6 hours just won't cut it. But I can't sleep over 8, I think it's I'm just so used to getting up early.

My daughter can sleep for 12 hours, I wish I could do that ever once in a while just to catch up.

For over 40 years I slept 5 - 5.5 a night and woke up feeling refreshed but now if I don't get 7 - 8 hours of sleep each night I feel tired all day. I chalk it up to that 'age thing'.