Sleep - How much is enough?

[rocksolid]

Apologies, it seems certain this has been done before but my search ability is poor today.

I constantly read that the correct amount of sleep is as important as healthy eating etc etc. And it’s generally accepted that the amount of sleep required varies by individual.

So, how do you determine how much sleep a person needs? And what factors influence this variation?

Yeah i know “If you’re tired you need more” seems like an obvious answer but i believe some people (me one of them) find getting up in the morning difficult no matter how much they sleep and being tired or lethargic during the day can be due to many other reasons.

So, how do i know how much i should sleep?

[x-ray_vision]

@rocksolid

So, how do you determine how much sleep a person needs?

Trial and error?

Experts say that if you feel drowsy during the day, even during boring activities, you haven’t had enough sleep.

http://www.presbyterian.org/health_services/sleep_services/faq/

@rocksolid

And what factors influence this variation?

How much sleep you require depends on several factors including:

* Your inherited genetic need
* Your sleep hygiene (those daily activities you control, from drinking coffee or alcohol to smoking and exercise)
* The quality of your sleep
* Your 24-hour daily cycle known as the circadian rhythm 

Symptoms of Sleep Problems

@rocksolid

Yeah i know “If you’re tired you need more” seems like an obvious answer but i believe some people (me one of them) find getting up in the morning difficult no matter how much they sleep and being tired or lethargic during the day can be due to many other reasons.

The bottom line is that you should wake up feeling relatively refreshed, and you should generally not feel sleepy during the day. If this is not the case, you may have an unrecognized sleep disorder and should see your doctor or a sleep specialist.

Symptoms of Sleep Problems