How Many Hours of Sleep Do You Really Need
Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t know how to sleep properly, why they should sleep, or how much sleep they actually need. A very good night’s sleep is essential for the body and mind, since they are both working throughout the day. Let us define what sleep really is before we can talk about how much sleep the body really needs.
What is Sleep?
There is a condition of body and mind called sleep, which usually lasts several hours every night, during which the nervous system is inactive, the eyes are closed, the body muscles are relaxed, and consciousness is virtually suspended.
Sleep is more than just a time to rest the body and the mind. You’re body is hard at work while you’re asleep.
It even extends beyond the night; you can sleep at any time during the day, depending on your schedule. It’s often the first thing we neglect or sacrifice when life gets hectic.
It is unfortunate because good sleep is just as important to good health as eating well and exercising.
How Many Hours of Sleep You Need
Individuals have different sleep needs and preferences, and how much sleep you need is no different.
The amount of sleep you need per night, however, is largely determined by your age.
Official recommendations for sleep duration are broken down by age group:
- Older adults (65+): 7–8 hours
- Adults (18–64 years): 7–9 hours
- Teenagers (14–17 years): 8–10 hours
- School children (6–13 years): 9–11 hours
- Preschoolers (3–5 years): 10–13 hours
- Toddlers (1–2 years): 11–14 hours
- Infants (4–11 months): 12–15 hours
- Newborns (0–3 months): 14–17 hours
Some people, however, might need more or less sleep than recommended, depending on the following factors.
Factors that Determine How Much Sleep You Need
- Genetic Makeup
You also need to consider genetics when determining how much sleep you need each night.
There are certain genetic mutations that affect how long you need to sleep, at what time of day you prefer to sleep, and how you respond to sleep deprivation.
On average, people without a particular mutation get by on about six hours, while those with it need way more than that.
Furthermore, people with certain genetic mutations are more negatively affected by sleep deprivation or sleep deeper.
Sadly, you cannot change your genetic makeup, and there is no reliable way to determine whether you have one of these mutations.
You should therefore pay attention to how you feel to determine if you are getting enough sleep.
- Sleep Quality
Sleep quality can also influence how much sleep you need.
Even after getting what should be enough sleep, you may still feel tired if your sleep quality is poor.
Alternatively, if you get good quality sleep, you may be able to get away with a little less.
In many studies, short sleep duration and poor sleep quality have been linked to many negative sleep-related effects.
Therefore, it’s important not just to sleep long enough, but also to sleep well enough.
In addition, many common sleep disorders can negatively impact your sleep quality. If you feel like you aren’t sleeping well or are extremely tired and don’t know why, you should talk to your doctor.
