# How much sleep in ideal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2001, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-in-ideal/77767 "2001-08-23T19:18:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-in-ideal/77767/1 "2001-08-23T19:18:42Z")
It seems no matter whether I get 5 hours or 10 a night, about 7 hours later I hit a wall and am a half a step from falling asleep at my desk (on weekends I just take a nap). Are we supposed to take naps? I know if I sleep too much (10-14hrs) it seems to make it worse. I have also heard that the older people get the less sleep they need. Is this true? How many hours per 24 should a 25 year old male sleep ideally? DaLovi’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-in-ideal/77767/2 "2001-08-23T19:27:16Z")
errrr. OP shoud read "How much sleep IS ideal? Even though sleeping in is ideal. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-in-ideal/77767/3 "2001-08-23T19:42:49Z")
I’d say it really varies from person to person. I know people who have no problem sleeping 5 hours a night, other people better have a full 8 or they’re out of their mind. Depends on you; if you’re the same on 5 as you are on 10, go for 5. Naps **are** good, but generally it makes more sense to just get enough sleep at night. I’ve never heard about older people needing less sleep, unless you mean “when you’re 20 you need less sleep than when you’re 8 months.” ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-in-ideal/77767/4 "2001-08-23T20:02:11Z")
I had to find just the right amount of sleep for me; I think it varies from person to person. If I sleep for 5 or 6 hours, I burn out quickly. If I sleep for 9 or 10 hours, it takes me 3 hours just to wake up. If, however, I sleep for 7-8 hours, I seem to wake up more quickly and can keep going longer during the day. Just my $0.02. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-in-ideal/77767/5 "2001-08-23T20:12:59Z")
I’m usually golden if I get 6 or 7 (I’m 26). Sometimes I take a nap in the late afternoon for an hour or so, sometimes I don’t. Part of the reason you might be lagging after 7 hours is you’re not eating enough for breakfast. Even though I hardly ever bother, I noticed it does make a big difference in energy level. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-in-ideal/77767/6 "2001-08-23T20:34:42Z")
I don’t know how much weight to give it, but I’ve read a study that says teens and adults up to age 24 are \* supposed \* to sleep 9.5 hours a night, and would gradually require less sleep thereafter(probably to a finite degree, since you always need to sleep.) One wonders where the figure came from since precious few people in that age group usually get that much sleep every night… ---
**Author:** ![missdavis102](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7feea3/32.png) [@missdavis102](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missdavis102)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-in-ideal/77767/7 "2001-08-23T20:51:30Z")
I’ve heard too that old people need less sleep, and I’ve seen this in action with my stepfather, the turtle. He sleeps something like 4-5 hours a night because he is an old person. Unfortunately I’m at work and don’t have anything I can reference for factual support. Probably any undergrad level developmental psychology book would give some idea of norms for each age. ---
**Author:** ![ModernRonin2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@ModernRonin2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ModernRonin2)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sleep-in-ideal/77767/8 "2001-08-23T21:46:53Z")
I’m 25, and I find I want 8.5-9 for optimal wakefullness throughout the whole day. I can get away with anything more than 7 for a day or two, provided I’ve had enough for the previous week or so. I can even occasionally pull off a 3-4 hour night, but then I get hit hard not the next day, but the day after that. But like other people have said, it varies widely person to person. -Ben