How important is 8 hours of sleep really?
By tanniebabe78
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
United States
November 6, 2007 6:11pm CST
I have found myself asking this question as I lie awake nights suffering bouts of insomnia. I am a night person by trade and have just begun watching kids during the day, so the adjustment is taking awhile.
I have, however, noticed (and I could be an exception) that I tend to be more energetic and less drowsy when I have 5 or less hours of sleep a night.
Moreover, just the opposite goes for when I get 7-8 hours of sleep. I am tired, grumpy and have zero energy to get me through the day. Not to mention headaches.
So this begs the question... Is 8 hours really necessary to function. My observations tell me no. What's your opinion?
14 responses
@talisman (1300)
• United States
7 Nov 07
It's actually very important for an adult to get 7-8 hours of sleep every night, although it's not necessary for everyone to get that amount to actually function. The reason that it's important to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night is because people who get more or less than that have a higher mortality rate than those that get the right amount of sleep.
@MGjhaud (23240)
• Philippines
10 Nov 07
I don’t know but I even sleep more than 8 hours before and there’s no difference. Well sometimes if I sleep less than 8 hours, for sure I’ll feel sleepy or draggy the whole day as if like I’ll lie in every bench I walk by. I’m also a night person and it sometimes hard if I have an early class the next day.
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
7 Nov 07
glad to see you are back. i have also wondered about the sleep thing. for 5 years now i have suffered from insomnia. i get an average of 3 hours or less each night. i dont feel rested but i manage. when i do get 4 or 5 hours in, i feel quite good.
@daveisdavid (878)
• Singapore
7 Nov 07
I am very much opposite as you. I need 8 hours of sleep everyday otherwise I will be tired in the day.
@ayou82 (3450)
• Philippines
7 Nov 07
As prescribed yes 8 hours sleep is good for our systems. But we canot make 8 hours of sleep specially if we are busy. its just like 8 glasses of water can you make it up by 8?? other they can others cant..
But i advise the 8 hours sleep..S the brain functions well and all is well.
@davidsmith4 (111)
• United States
7 Nov 07
well not to function at 100% you don't need 8 hours but myself i've found if i get like 5 i not as awake and not as efficient if i got more sleep the night before...mountain dew usually solves that though :)
@santwana_veddika (2018)
• India
7 Nov 07
Yes it is true that we must have at least 7 to 9 hours sleep in the night becuase from morning to till it's get dark we are busy with work and watching t.v and playing games and chatting with others all these are make our body strengthless. we need sleep inthe night so that we will be fresh for next day.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Some people physically and mentally adapt to what you've described. Back in my college and online gaming days I could easily not sleep a day or two. I noticed when I did sleep sometimes I'd wake up sore or tired. It was weird. Now that I've kind of gotten back to normal I do sleep 6 or so hours and I feel fine. Other times I sleep less and still stay up a couple of nights. I will say this, sometimes the body will strain as will the mind if not enough sleep is received in a reasonable period of time.
@slamming (6)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I think it just differs from person to person. There are persons who need at least 8 hours otherwise they'll be walking around like zombies all day, others just needs 4/5 hours to go another day. Personally I get maybe 4 hours a night. Not because I want too really, but I just have a sleeping problem and wake up all the time.
Unfortunately the doc couldn't help me, so I'll just have to deal with it. Anyone any suggestions?? (No meds please)
@dereksun (31)
• China
7 Nov 07
i have severe problem with sleep.obviously sleep have much to do with personality.in my eyes if you are a free and easy person i believe you can surly sleep well.in the opposite,if you always care much about something,such as life,money,friendship,work.when these things become so bad that it give you much pressure beyond the extent your can endure,the result is your life quality lowers and your sleep worse.so if we want to live a satisfying life and get a good sleep .the first thing you need to do is let down anything and let things slide! i will let down anything!!!!
@fanji008 (775)
• China
7 Nov 07
Well,it had also happened to me before that the longer I slept,the more tired I felt. I don't know why that happened.But usually I feel sleepy or not very energetic if I don't get enough sleep.I think certain hours are necessary to our body but maybe not always 8. I guess different people have a little bit differences.
@spacecreature (114)
• United States
7 Nov 07
This was really weird to read because I have wondered the same thing because i feel the same way after i get 5 or less hours of sleep. And I feel really tired all day if I get 8 or more hours of sleep. So I would have to say no that it really doesn't matter if you get 8 hours of sleep.
