How Many Hours of Sleep Do You Really Need?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the varying amounts of sleep participants experience during different times of the year, such as semesters, holidays, and weekends. Participants share personal anecdotes regarding their sleep habits, the effects of sleep on their daily functioning, and references to historical figures like Benjamin Franklin in relation to sleep patterns.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants report sleeping between 5 to 10 hours depending on the time of year, with variations during semesters and holidays.
  • One participant mentions Benjamin Franklin's ability to function on only 2 hours of sleep, prompting curiosity about how this might be achieved.
  • Several participants express differing opinions on the necessity and effectiveness of napping, with some advocating for short naps to recharge and others viewing them as a waste of time.
  • A participant proposes a theory that suggests for every 1.5 hours of sleep less than 8 hours, one can compensate with a cup of coffee, which others find amusing and consider refining.
  • Some participants describe erratic sleep patterns, with significant fluctuations in sleep duration from day to day, leading to varying levels of energy and productivity.
  • Concerns about the health implications of poor sleep patterns are raised, with one participant mentioning potential links to depression.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of sleep durations and experiences, with no consensus on the ideal amount of sleep or the effectiveness of napping. The discussion reflects multiple competing views on sleep habits and their impacts on daily life.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the influence of external factors, such as class schedules and personal responsibilities, on their sleep patterns. There are also references to anecdotal experiences rather than scientific evidence regarding sleep needs and effects.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in sleep patterns, health, and productivity, as well as those exploring personal experiences with sleep during academic or holiday periods.

john16O
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How many hours of sleep do you usually get a night during semester/holidays/summer? I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who was able to manipulate REM(Rapid Eye Movement Sleep) and function off of 2 HOURS OF SLEEP A DAY!Thought that was pretty cool. For those of you that do not know what REM sleep is, it is when the body is actually recharging itself so to speak and lasts for about 90-120 minutes. But it takes about 2 hours to actually get into the REM stage, but Benjamin Franklin was able to do it much quicker.
 
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So far during winter break, 9 hours a day. I go to bed at 3 and wake up at around 11-12ish.
 
I did the same, but I think I went closer to 2am.

Now, I try to go to bed at 10pm and wake up at 6am.

What's your source for Franklin's ability like that? I've heard of this kind of method. I've heard it sucks.
 
During the semester usually 7-8 hours of sleep, esp. before exams. All the people I ever met that say they only get like 4 hours of sleep always end up doing poorly. But maybe some people are different, I like my 8 hours of sleep because I can work all day then, with small breaks throughout.

During the holidays, whenever I wake up :).
 
I practising myself to sleep at 12am and wake up at 7am everyday, because I don't want to miss my breakfast.
do you guys taking few hours nap at afternoon? There is some specialist said it was healthy, but I think it will be wasting my time...
 
i sleep around 6.5-7.5 hours a night; weekends and holidays, its a different story.
 
Semester around 5-6 a night, then I try to get 8 on holidays and weekends. I have a theory that says for every 1.5 hours of sleep less than 8 you get, it can be replaced by a cup of coffee. So far it's been working.
 
I try for atleast 7-8 hours. For me, there is nothing worse than a lack of sleep before an exam.
 
Well during the semester it ranges between 6 and 8, exam week I got 8 hours every day. As for holidays my xmas holidays, 9-10, :biggrin:.
 
  • #10
REM?
Isn't it the name of a pop band?
(-:
anyway, i guess that i sleep between 7-8 hours at semesters or holidays.
 
  • #11
wats tis REM
 
  • #12
I sleep FOREVER i love it hah, very unproductive.
my g/f gets pissed.

I have one of the worst sleeping patterns.

Example: From Saturday to Sunday I slept from 8:00am to 7:00pm. So I woke up at 7:00pm called the g/f ate some food, did homework, did my exercising, now its 7:27AM and its Monday and I won't be sleeping until it hits around 11:00pm so I can wake up at 8:00am to get to my artificial intelligence class on Tuesday. Wee!

The most I slept was 18 hours, average from Friday to Saturday is ~12 hours.
This isn't a full sleep though, i wake up, but just go back to bed.
 
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  • #13
mr_coffee said:
I sleep FOREVER i love it hah, very unproductive.
my g/f gets pissed.

I have one of the worst sleeping patterns.

Example: From Saturday to Sunday I slept from 8:00am to 7:00pm. So I woke up at 7:00pm called the g/f ate some food, did homework, did my exercising, now its 7:27AM and its Monday and I won't be sleeping until it hits around 11:00pm so I can wake up at 8:00am to get to my artificial intelligence class on Tuesday. Wee!

The most I slept was 18 hours, average from Friday to Saturday is ~12 hours.
This isn't a full sleep though, i wake up, but just go back to bed.

that isn't healthy man. you should get that fixed.
 
  • #14
I know, I'm not sure what it is, some say depression makes you sleep a lot but I don't feel depressed maybe my inner child is telling me something.
 
  • #15
Alixia said:
do you guys taking few hours nap at afternoon? There is some specialist said it was healthy, but I think it will be wasting my time...

IMHO, this is a very healthy habit. By taking those little naps, you get to recharge a little. When I would get like 5 hours of sleep on some nights. I would feel crappy in school. I would therefore go find a spot in the library or wherever and sleep for like 20-30 mins, and awake ready to roll. I'm not sure about the timing though. Thats is, if its better around lunch, afternoon, evening, etc.
 
  • #16
nicksauce said:
Semester around 5-6 a night, then I try to get 8 on holidays and weekends. I have a theory that says for every 1.5 hours of sleep less than 8 you get, it can be replaced by a cup of coffee. So far it's been working.

Haha I like that. nicksauce coffee-sleep theorem?
 
  • #17
Feldoh said:
Haha I like that. nicksauce coffee-sleep theorem?

so by that logic I could get by with no sleep as long as I drank 5.333 cups of coffee per day? :-p I think his theory needs to be refined a bit.
 
  • #18
Well maybe he only forgot to mention the domain of his function.
 
  • #19
john16O said:
I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who was able to manipulate REM(Rapid Eye Movement Sleep) and function off of 2 HOURS OF SLEEP A DAY!QUOTE]

WOW. Any ideas on how he did that? I would love to know/try it!
 
  • #20
I have strange sleep patterns. I never seem to sleep anywhere near the same amount every day over the course of an average week.

One day I can sleep 10-12 hours (Hopefully not on a day with class!), another day I sleep 3 hours, wake up and play my Nintendo DS until 8:00 when I go to class and function fine all day. I don't know what's up with my sleep patterns.
 
  • #21
I'm the same way G01.

Some days I can run on like 2 hours of sleep and feel super energized and other days I can sleep for 13+ hours and feel like hell and even more tired than if I would have only gotten 2-4 hours.
 

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