How Much Do I Need to Sleep?

How much did you sleep last night or the day before? Do you often check your sleep schedule? Well, the majority doesn't. Keeping a record of your regular sleep schedule doesn't always fall under your priority. But it is crucial you do since sleep is important in playing a major part in your overall well-being. You might be unaware of this fact, but the amount of sleep has a significant factor that contributes to your health. From weight and metabolism to proper brain functioning and emotional well-being, it can affect all.

For some people, the regular sleep and getting up time might be the same while it can fluctuate for others. It can vary based on your regular schedule like:
•    Social life and commitments
•    Work structure
•    Steaming in a new series

And the list goes on. Now, answering your question about how much sleep I need, we will talk about the different age group-wise suitability.

How Much Sleep Do You Need?

The answer to 'how many hours do I need to sleep' keeps changing throughout your life. The duration varies between age groups. Like, an infant will need at least 17 hours of sufficient sleep while for an adult the figures will be 7 hours. The sleep recommendations for sound health might vary from place to place. According to the American Academy of Paediatrics and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the normal sleep guidelines for different age groups are:


•    From infants to babies of 3 months, the ideal duration is 14 to 17 hours.
•    From 4 months to 11 months kids, the perfect duration is 12 to 16 hours.
•    For kids of 1 to 2 years, the suitable duration is 11 to 14 hours.
•    For kids of 3 to 5 years, the ideal time duration is 10 to 13 hours.
•    For kids of 6 to 12 years, the ideal duration is 9 to 12 hours.
•    For children of 13 to 18 years, the ideal span is 8 to 10 hours
•    For individuals of 18 to 64 years, the ideal duration is 7 to 9 hours.
•    For people who are above 65, the ideal duration is 7 to 8 hours.

Having said that, it's important to keep in mind that sleep requirements might vary within the same age group. You might require 8 hours of sleep at night to wake up relaxed while your friends or family members or partner gets it spontaneous just after 7 hours of sleep. Again, if you sleep too much, it turns out to get you more lazy and tired.

You should keep in mind what you feel or experience after receiving various sleep amounts. You can ask yourself the following questions while analyzing your sleep requirements:
•    Do I feel calm and rested after having 8 hours of sleep or there's a need of more?
•    Do I feel drowsy during the day?
•    Do I depend on Caffeine too much to keep going throughout the day?
•    Has the person lying beside me noticed me move or toss during my sleep?

Many people prefer tuning in to soft music at their bedtime that helps them lull to sleep in no time. However, some might find it difficult to get sleep early and often fall prey to less sleep which brings adverse health consequences. Visiting a specialist in such a case is recommended.

Results of Sleep Deprivation

People who face problems to sleep that even sometimes lead to sleep deprivation could ponder upon some indecent health effects. Not getting enough sleep could be detrimental to different body parts and restorative functions. If you have occasional nights of poor sleep quality that might not have a larger health effect.
However, people having it regularly could be prone to various physical, mental, or emotional distress.

Physical Impacts

Some noticeable physical Impacts of occasional sleep deprivation are drowsiness, pale skin, dark circles, and headaches. If the problem with less sleep persists long term it can invite adverse consequences like a reduction in immunity, weight fluctuations, increased appetite, signs of aging, and chronic inflammation.

Mental Health Impacts

Regular problems to sleep that ultimately result in poor quality sleeping time regularly can put bad effects on the mental and emotional being of the person. They might feel irritated at small things, get stressed at small things and find it difficult to maintain a good balance. According to some research, sleep deprivation can even worsen some serious mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, and hallucinations.

Cognitive Effects

Poor quality sleep often affects the brain's ability to function effectively. Consequently, you'll find it tough to focus or concentrate on things properly. Research indicates low quality sleep is linked to poor functioning of the brain's frontal lobe. It affects:
•    Decision making
•    Attention
•    Memory
•    Alertness

Why Is Sleep Important?

Sleep is important for various reasons. A good quality night's sleep:
•    assists in regulating the release of hormones that control appetite, growth, and metabolism
•    helps to boost brain functioning
•    reduces the risks linked to heart diseases and strokes
•    reduces the risk for chronic health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure
•    might lower the depression risks
•    promotes healthy immune functioning

A good quality night's sleep goes a long way to help you keep up with a healthy life and maintain a balanced lifestyle. If you don't sleep well, you'll keep juggling between the hassles of your regular schedule and things will start to get difficult. Sleeping well at night helps you feel rested and you get up motivated in the morning only to start the day on a refreshing note. On the other hand, always make sure you don't sleep too much, as that often leads to a feeling of dullness.

Wrapping Up

Your sleep needs gradually change with your age and stabilize around 20. If you often have problems to sleep early at night, if you are trying hard, try considering some basic methods like listening to soft music, practicing daytime exercise, investing in daytime Yoga, and following a specific sleep schedule for every day. If things don't get better with time, seeing a doctor is the best option.

I hope this article was helpful to answer your question 'how much do I need to sleep." We should never forget, "health is wealth." The more we treat it and nurture it well, the better results it will yield. A sound health will help you be charged up and enthusiastic and you will find it easier to explore new opportunities!

Note: The article is meant for general awareness of the readers. The information can’t be used as a substitute to a medical prescription or diagnosis by a medical professional. In case you experience above or related symptoms, kindly consult a registered medical professional.

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