how much sleep do you really need?

[space-time]

I can't seem to get enough sleep lately, for a variety of reason I won't discuss here. My doctors and all books I read say that you need a good amount of sleep, 7-8 hours. But I remember reading in some magazines that some successful people got very little sleep. so where is the truth? is 5 hours enough sleep? or do you really need 7-8 for a healthy life?

[PeterB]

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/h...eally-need
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/new...eally-need

... the latter article suggests something similar to what I've occasionally done anyway: turn off the alarm clock and see when your body naturally wakes. If you're really tired, your body will generally take what sleep it needs. What the webmd article says to do is similar... go to sleep earlier and earlier to the point where you don't need the alarm clock to wake. I've generally found that I'm waking up right before the alarm clock goes off, so I'm probably at just about the right point.

[cbelt3]

It's a YMMV thing. A lot of high energy people seem to thrive on 4 or 5 hours. I think it's genetic. I get loopy without at least 6, and my body really wants 8 or 9. Lots of research about sleep deficits out there.

[Robert M]

Space,

How much sleep do I really need? More than I'm getting right now. 'friggin sinus infection! And it came just after a nasty dose of the flu that knocked me on my butt for a week. Mackenfrackenfrickenfrackenfracken!

Robert

[bazookaman]

I get up at 5ish and in bed by 10ish. And when my head hits the pillow I am asleep. So I get a solid 7ish hours every night.

[M A V I C]

A lot of people think they do well with little sleep, but from what I've seen, after years it catches up to them. That said, life changes for me mean I have to set an alarm now and am lucky to get 7hrs.

[the_poochies]

During the week I seem to do fine with 5-6 hours, but on weekends, I'll play catchup and get a full 8 hours sleep.

[vicrock]

6-7 hours - I naturally wake early - usually by 4am - I do usually hit the bed by 9pm.

[ka jowct]

I need at least 7 to feel good and function well. I can get by on 6 but am more irritable and have less energy. Several days in a row with 5 hours really takes a toll: I have a very short fuse and am not thinking as clearly. I am pretty much on auto-pilot. Unfortunately, that is the amount of sleep I tend to get over the major holiday periods. It takes me a week or two to really bounce back.

A small nap before my evening jobs helps.

[SteveO]

What PeterB said — let your body tell you.

And keep in mind what you read about "successful" people usually defines success by the size of their portfolio and status vs. actual quality of life.