how much sleep do you need?

How much sleep do you need?

Sleep is an essential part of our lives and we spend an average of a third of our lives sleeping. But how much sleep do you actually need? Read on to find out what factors you should consider and how much sleep you really need.

Get to know your sleep needs

Some people don't get enough sleep, others get the right amount of sleep or even too much. The trick is to find a level that makes you feel rested. If you wake up on your own before the alarm goes off, you have had enough sleep. If you function well during the day, it also means that you got an adequate amount of sleep. However, if you feel tired during the day, you should get more sleep.

Many people live their lives by the mantra that 7-8 hours of sleep is perfect. This is true for the majority of adults, but there will always be exceptions. Some people naturally need a lot of sleep. Sleep specialist Søren Berg calls these people “late risers”. Meanwhile, people who do well on just a few hours of sleep are known as “short sleepers.”

Age and health affect your need for sleep

The amount of sleep you need depends largely on your age and health. Children and adolescents need a lot of sleep because their bodies develop a lot while they sleep. Older people and especially young children also need to take advantage of some daylight hours to meet their sleep needs.

Researchers at the National Sleep Foundation examined the sleep needs of people at different stages of life. In the infographic you can see the recommended sleep duration for your age group.

How does health affect your sleep?

Health also influences how much sleep we need so that our body can restore and regenerate cells while we sleep and dream. If you are ill for a short period of time or have a chronic illness, you will need more sleep than normal as your body works to renew its cells. Medications can also cause greater fatigue, causing you to sleep more than usual.

Do the seasons affect our sleep?

The seasons also affect the amount of sleep we need. In winter there are fewer daylight hours and less light, so the brain produces more sleep hormone, melatonin. Melatonin makes us tired and our bodies produce melatonin when it is dark. For this reason, sleep specialists recommend not watching TV or concentrating on other electronic screens in the last hour before bed, as this inhibits our melatonin production and makes it difficult for us to sleep. Since our sleep is easily affected by light and darkness, there are many people who sleep half an hour or an hour longer in winter.

Can you sleep too much?

Most people wake up on their own when they are rested. So you shouldn't sleep longer, otherwise you'll be overtired and lethargic during the day. However, late sleepers do not necessarily become tired if they sleep longer than average because they naturally need more sleep.

You can try sleeping longer to make up for lost sleep. But this only works for a short time, e.g. B. after a hard week. However, this assumes that you are healthy. You cannot make up for repeated lack of sleep over several months, as this can quickly lead to health problems.

Sleeping more than necessary can become a bad habit. That's why it's good to know how much sleep you need and why you sometimes need more sleep than usual. If you have concerns about the amount of sleep you are getting, please contact your primary care provider.