# How much sleep do you need? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 19, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534 "2003-03-19T14:02:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lovelyluka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lovelyluka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lovelyluka)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/21 "2003-03-19T21:20:45Z")
I survive on about 5-6 hours (ahh, college) with a good dose of caffeine in the mornings and afternoons. But I need 7-8. Maybe 9. Not more, or else I get a headache. Over break I consistently went to bed after midnight and got up between 8-9…it was great, never felt so well rested. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/22 "2003-03-19T21:40:41Z")
I have yet to determine an adequate amount of sleep for myself. I have never woken up once without wanting to go back to sleep immediately. theoretical estimates place my optimal sleep amount at somewhere between 24 and 72 hours. That said, I generally get about 6-7 a night. ---
**Author:** ![Wearia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Wearia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wearia)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/23 "2003-03-19T23:58:01Z")
I get around 8 a night. I need about ten to function properly. ---
**Author:** ![SonOfArizona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SonOfArizona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SonOfArizona)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/24 "2003-03-20T00:11:43Z")
> [@](#): > > What I forgot to add: I once read about an Italian renaissance painter (Michelangelo or Leonardo da Vinci) who never went to bed for a long time. His method was that he quickly slept for fifteen minutes every two (or was it four?) hours. That would make for three hours in total per day. I’ve always wanted to try that, but unfortunately normal work and life rhythm intervenes. It was Leonardo da Vinci, and you are correct about that. He was able to function very well under those conditions, so I have read. I actually recall a Seinfeld episode where Kramer decided to try this sleep theory and ended up nodding off randomly throughout the episode, ultimately ending up falling asleep on top of his girlfriend who, in turn, thought he was dead and had her mafia friends toss him into a river. Funny stuff. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/25 "2003-03-20T01:34:34Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Phyre_ > i suppose the fact we get along with 4-5 hours on average means that is all we actually need Your logic here may be a little flawed (perhaps you’re muddled from lack of sleep?:)) Just because you can **survive** on so little sleep, doesn’t mean you don’t **need** more. Maybe a kind of comparison would be that you could survive, indefinitely, on 800 calories a day, but you wouldn’t be healthy. Sleep deprivation has been known to lead to increased reaction time in driving situations, and can weaken your immune system (I read this stuff in all kinds of reputable papers and mags, but am sure I could produce cites if anyone needs them). Believe me, I understand about having newborns! But once **Li’lphyre** starts sleeping for longer periods of time, you’ll feel ever so much better! Best of luck with your new one! Oh, forgot to answer the OP. I feel best on 8, most nights only get 6.5 to 7. Can function on 4 or 5. But if I get less than 6.5 for more than a few nights in a row, I turn into a _raging bitch_! ---
**Author:** ![Vaioman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ecccb3/32.png) [@Vaioman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaioman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/26 "2003-03-20T01:50:49Z")
I go to sleep when I get tired. I wake up at 6:30. Usually between 4-6 hours a night, and 1-2 an afternoon 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/27 "2003-03-20T02:00:41Z")
When I can sleep as long as I want, I sleep 8-9 hours. Most nights (including many weekends) I sleep 6-7, and I’m fine, I function normally, whatever. I can get through a work day on 4 hours without many ill effects, but I’m ready to crash within two ours of getting home. ---
**Author:** ![moi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/28 "2003-03-20T04:22:31Z")
I need and get 5 to 6 hours of sleep. I am, however, married to someone who _ **needs** _ his 8 hours of sleep, which makes for some interesting mornings. On a related note, I strangely believe that I have chosen to be someone who needs less sleep. I remember hearing a guest lecture by a judge who said he only slept 4 to 5 hours a night and commented how much more productive he was as a result. Now if I could only get down that being productive part of the equation… ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/29 "2003-03-20T04:39:45Z")
Well, if it’s not too many nights in a row, I can get away with 2 or 3. If it is, I need 4.5. If there’s no alarm, I’ll sleep an easy 12. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/30 "2003-03-20T05:17:19Z")
Oh… I misread the title. I thought you said **Sheep**. :smack: never mind ---
**Author:** ![Daerlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Daerlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daerlyn)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/31 "2003-03-20T05:54:05Z")
Way more than I’m currently getting. In all seriousness, though: I generally sleep five or six hours when left to my own devices, but am generally tired. I can function on 3 or 4 (or none, although it’s quite painful), and more than 8 hours (unless I’ve done the ‘none’ thing the night before) will make me very muzzy headed. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534/32 "2003-03-20T05:59:05Z")
I have devised an exacting equation. I need 7.5 hours of sleep, plus the amount of time spent at the gym that day. I.e., 1.5 hours working out, I will need 9 hours of sleep. I just don’t function if I get less than 7 for more than 1-2 nights, so I make sure to sleep lots. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-do-you-need/162534.md?page=1)