How much sleep do you need for optimal functioning?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the varying amounts of sleep participants believe they need for optimal functioning. It includes personal experiences with sleep schedules, the impact of class timings, and the effects of sleep deprivation. The conversation touches on both subjective feelings of restfulness and the physiological aspects of sleep.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants report needing between 4 to 10 hours of sleep, with variability based on their schedules and personal habits.
  • Several participants mention that their sleep patterns are affected by class timings, with early classes leading to reduced sleep during the week.
  • One participant suggests that the quality of sleep, particularly the amount of REM sleep, may be more important than the total hours slept.
  • There are accounts of extreme variations in sleep, such as one participant who used to function on as little as 3-4 hours but now averages more.
  • Some express frustration with their sleep habits, indicating a desire for more consistent and restorative sleep.
  • Participants share anecdotes about how their sleep needs have changed over time, with some noting a decrease in required sleep as they age.
  • One participant humorously notes the challenges of waking up due to a partner's need for physical contact during sleep.
  • Another mentions the struggle of balancing study demands with adequate sleep, particularly around exam times.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the optimal amount of sleep needed, with a wide range of personal experiences and opinions shared. There are competing views on the importance of sleep duration versus sleep quality.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about their sleep needs and the effects of sleep deprivation, indicating that their experiences may not be typical. There are references to individual differences in sleep requirements and the impact of lifestyle choices on sleep quality.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in sleep patterns, those experiencing sleep-related challenges, or anyone looking to understand the variability in sleep needs among different people.

How many hours do you average per night?

  • < 2

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Between 2 and 4.

    Votes: 2 3.4%

  • Between 4 and 6.

    Votes: 15 25.4%

  • Between 6 and 8.

    Votes: 35 59.3%

  • Between 8 and 10.

    Votes: 6 10.2%

  • > 10

    Votes: 1 1.7%
  • Total voters
    59
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Since I have an 8am class 3 days per week, I get about 6 hours on the previous nights. The other nights I average about 10 hours, so my sleeping schedule is really polar, and it's annoying. Next semester I'll be waking up every day at the same time. What about you all?
 
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I wake up about the same time everyday, 7:30-8:30. I usually get at least 7 hours of sleep.
 
Between about 6 and 8...on average. Some nights it's closer to 1 or 2, and others I get more like 12, but usually about 6 or 7 weekdays and a few extra hours on weekends. Even if I can't sleep for a solid block of 6 hours, some fragmented naps will help me remain functional.
 
I get about 4-7 hrs depending.
 
Between 4 and 6 for me, I have 8am classes and don't go to bed until 12:30 or 1 on a good day which I always come to regret in the morning.
 
I try to limit my sleeping to 6-7 hours a night, but catch up on weekends with a good 9 hour doze.
 
I was once told that the number of hours of total sleep is not as important as actually how many hours of REM sleep you get. The faster you get to REM can mean you don't need as much sleep, like 5 hours can make you feel plenty rested if you are in the REM stage most of the time. I usually sleep 6 hours and feel pretty good in the morning.
 
I voted 4-6, but it varies. I go to bed sometime between 11 and midnight, and the alarm is set for 7:30. Unfortunately, W insists upon waking me up every time she wants to move. If we're lying on our left sides, she'll shake me awake and say 'Roll over, honey'. This is simply so that I can then put my arm around her rather than the other way around. That goes the other way if we start on our right sides. She can't seem to sleep without physical contact. All in all, I would far prefer that she just forcibly roll me over without waking me up.
 
I need 10 hours of sleep a night and I don't get it.
 
  • #10
5 hrs is pretty standard, but weekends up to 8! Funny... sometimes before exam you think "after this is over, I will sleep my head off, just let me hit a bed"... and then after the exam sleeps disappears somehow... does anyone have this experience...?
 
  • #11
The day is pretty much worthless unless I get a solid 7-8 hours.
 
  • #12
My sleep schedual is quite variable. Normal work days (nights) I get to bed by 7:30am and sleep as long as I can, usually some time after noon and before 2pm. Around 6hrs.

Weekends, I stay up as late as I can, 2-3am then sleep as late as I can.. 10am-noon.

I try to keep the 7am -10am as a consistent sleep block.
 
  • #13
On regular days i get 6-8, on vacations i get solid 10s and on finals, i get solid 1-2 hours if possible.
 
  • #14
5-6 weekdays, 13 weekends.

That comes with working until midnight several days out of the week.
 
  • #15
sleep = 2:30am to 8 am.

weekends, 2:30am to 12pm.
 
  • #16
what does it mean?
8am class 3 days
 
  • #17
You young buggers are starting to piss me off.:-p
I used to go by anywhere from 0 to 6 hours, and (as mentioned elsewhere), my record was 142 hours awake, with a couple of 1 & 2 hour naps. Now, it really doesn't seem to matter whether or not I sleep. Either way, I'm exhausted all of the time. I assume that due to the emphysema, I can't get enough oxygen to properly enervate my body. I should really make a resolution to quit smoking when I'm 80.
 
  • #18
enricfemi said:
what does it mean?
I have a class at 8 o'clock in the morning three days per week.
 
  • #19
This thread inspired me to try to get 6 last night. After letting some cold air into my room I set my alarm for 6 hours and dozed off in about 10 minutes. Once I woke up to the alarm I couldn't convince myself to wake up and went back to bed and slept another 2 hours. lol
 
  • #20
Wake up: 4:30am
Sleep: 10:00pm

Yawn: all day
 
  • #21
In my 20s it was 10 hours a day. Now in my 50s it's 6 hours a day. At this rate, I expect to stop sleeping altogether sometime before the age of 100.
 
  • #22
WEEK : up at 7 30 am - go to bed at midnight
WEEKEND : up at 1130 am - go to bed at 02-03 am

Actually, i need a lot of sleep and i HATE getting up early. My ideal situation would be : get up at 10 am and go to bed at 0100 am...I need 9 hours of sleep to feel completely rested...


marlon
 
  • #23
As I voted, 6-8 is an average. I had a long period where 3-4 was my average, which pretty much made me 'tough', because in general I can function pretty good for about 20-21 hours with 3-4 hours of sleep. Of course, the key to that is a 20 minute (not longer) afternoon nap. :wink:
 
  • #24
last night I was so tired I went to bed at 8:30. Bad Idea. my internal clock rebelled and I woke up at midnight, drifted in and house of sleep for another two hours and finally got up and last minute studied for my test. Which is at 9 this morning. ugh.
 
  • #25
I get between 6-7 a night once you factor in unwinding usually takes an hour or so for me. Really though, it doesn't matter what time I go to bed because I'm yawning all day through classes either way (sleeping disorder maybe?)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #26
About 8.

(Neglecting all-nighters out of bed and the following all-dayers in bed :wink: )
 
  • #27
Where is the "as much as I possibly can" choice?
 
  • #28
On average ,only about 4 hours of a true sleep or even less.
I definitely used to sleep more in my teen days.
Probably I got to cut back on a black coffee.
 

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