Is 8 hours sleep really the optimum time?

Question

Sometimes I wake up after 6 hours and feel really refreshed and other times, I wake up after 9 hours and feel really tired. Is everyone different and 8 hours is just a generalised amount?

Answer 1

Eight hours is very much a generalized amount. The actual amount of sleep you need is very individualized. As a rough guide, most people need between 6 and 9 hours of sleep to function well. There is no documented case of anyone who sleeps as few a four hours per day (although you hear about people who can do that all the time -- it's never been documented by a sleep lab).

There is a very simple "test" you can do to see if you're getting enough sleep. It's called a sleep-latency test, and the basic idea is this: during the day, pick an arbitrary time when you're feeling a little bit tired. Lay down in a quiet, darkened room. If you're still awake after 20 minutes, you are generally getting enough sleep. If, on the other hand, you actually fall asleep -- you're not getting enough sleep (on average). The faster you fall asleep, the more deeply sleep deprived you are. If you fall asleep in 5 minutes or less, your body is very seriously (almost dangerously) sleep deprived.

There are two ways to tell how fast you fall asleep. The best way is to have a friend or family member very quietly observe you -- but there is a clever way to do it if you're alone:

(1) Get a dinner plate and a tablespoon.
(2) Put the dinner plate on the floor, and lay on your side on the bed/sofa with the spoon gripped lightly in your hand
(3) Position yourself so that your hand (and the spoon) are over the plate
(4) Look at a clock and note the time, then close your eyes and relax.

If you fall asleep, your hand will relax and drop the spoon. The resulting clatter as it hits the plate will, I guarantee, wake you up. Look at the clock again. The elapsed time is your "sleep latency."

Answer 2

Depends on whether you are 14 to 18 years of age. After you have reached full growth in height, gone through the general biological changes that means you are an adult you should need anywhere from four to eight hours.

Eight is the medium because some people need twelve. How much you get also has to do with your activities, stress, and good emotional conditions can cause happy alertness too, as well.

A common rule for that still tired after a good night sleep is you may be stressed when you are sleeping longer by something you had on your schedule you missed.

Answer 3

It is lots of components in a good sleep. 8 hours it is what in a book but we are all different and at different times need different hours of sleep. To be honest I don't knew the formula. Another day I had 4 hours of sleep and felt pretty awake because the day was fully packed. Usually i desperate to have a nap during the day even if i had an "8 hours" of sleep

Answer 4

Like most things, quality counts over quantity. 6 hours of deep sleep are better than 8 hours of light sleep. If you remember your dream you have slept deep and well. The more you remember the better. Try to get between 7 and 8 hours. Too much is as bad as too little.

Answer 5

maximum young little ones choose a sprint extra effective than adults, around 9 hrs. yet no longer all choose that lots so in case you have much less and nevertheless experience energetic and alert all day then that's high quality. i don't know roughly sleep affecting your height, i think of that except your strengthen is stunted with the help of adverse food or ailment you will finally end up despite height your genes dictate you will finally end up and there is no longer lots you're able to do.

Answer 6

It really depends on the person. Some need as little as five, others round 9-11 hours of sleep. (according to sleep studies I have read)
Charles, "That Cheeky Lad"
Happy Christmas to all who celebrate
And peace and good will to everyone!

Answer 7

Hello, Beanie:
I use to sleep 8 hours too, but it depends on every person. Somebody sleep 6 hours and then they woke up in good conditions.

Good bye :-)

Answer 8

8 hours is enough time to be able to get up and function but i think that 6, 8 or even 10 is never enough you always need that extra hour or that extra 1 min in bed

Answer 9

in general yes. Apparently tony blair only gets five. Having naps and rests can be just as important, so if you only get 4-5 hours get a daytime nap as well.

Answer 10

Actually it depends very much on the individual... weall have dofferent patterns.

I've been an insomniac for nearly 10 years. I'm an expert on sleep, but I just don't get any!