I know the "reccomended" amount of sleep Io should get, but can sleep needs differ from person to person?

Question

I am fourteen years old, and therefore should get approximately nine to eleven hourse of sleep a night, correct? Most nights, due to my inability to fall asleep before 1:00 am (and belive me, I try!) I get around six hours. I am able to wake up in the morning and can function fine without any noticeable effects. Is not getting the reccomended amount of sleep for my age group bad for my health, even if I don't feel the effects?

Answer 1

Yes, sleep can vary from person to person.

As long as you steadily and predictably get about 6 hours of sleep everynight (including on weekends), I would say that you are probably not experiencing sleep deprivation. However, if you are getting 6 hours some nights and 12 hours on others, I would say that the 6 hours is not very adequate for you and you might need to try different relaxment techniques to calm your body down and get it ready for sleep earlier than 1 am. Also, the body is very capable of adapting to less sleep so that could be the case as well.

I know it's rough, my internal clock doesn't like going to sleep until about 3 or 4 am. lol... :)

Tricks to get to bed earlier can include doing only relaxing things like taking a bath or reading a non-school book or magazine for around 30minutes to an hour. Avoid bright lights from lamps, tvs, and computer screens for at least 30 minutes before bed which can stimulate your brain and make you feel less sleepy.

Answer 2

It's not even the amount of sleep you get its how good you sleep i mean yea i can't even go to bed before 2 am im 17 but if you sleep real good for like 4 hours i'm fine. Buut it is good once in a while just to get the 8 hours sleep just to make yourself feel refreshed :D i havent died yet im perfectly healthy!

Answer 3

I believe the optimum amount is around 7-8 hours.

Personally, too little sleep (4-5hrs) and I'm hyper early on and then crash out later, or too much (10hrs+) and I wake up real tired, with a screaming headache, but am much more awake later in the day.

7-8hr is perfect for me.

Also, I believe as you get older, you require less sleep.

Answer 4

Yes it can vary from per to per, as one gets older they are said to need less sleep, but older people in my opinion gets more sleep than younger people. but this is a matter you should surly discuss with your parents and you doctor. It seems some what of a bother to you, I know this because if it did not matter to you, You would never had bought up the convo about it,..Good luck

Answer 5

yes. every1 has a different sleep need. Are you a couch potato.. or are you involved w/ extra curricular activities? When you get involved w/ sport stuff (esp. in high school), you wish you would have more sleeping time......