For some reason I can't function right and won't get out of bed (really hard to ) If I get less than 8 or 9 hours of sleep. I use to function with like 5 or 6 but not anymore...

 

I'm fine with 5-6 hours. Just got used to it.

If I'm off the next day though... 12-14 hours of sleep. I'm a cat. I'll sleep anywhere.

 

The number of hours of sleep are not all that important. It's the amount of uninterrupted, deep sleep, that's important.

Maybe it's time for a new mattress? If you're feeling unrested when you wake up, you're not getting the correct support when you sleep.

 

Newer studies indicate that short 15 minutes naps throughout the day can be helpful. So 8 hours of sleep is not always necessary. It's better on your body/mind but you can always supplement with short naps if you don't get the full 8 hours of sleep from the night before.

 

I usually get 7 hours of sleep and function just fine..... Maybe you should try to get some exersize...it makes you feel better and you sleep better.... works for me...... tossing off doesn't count as exersize though.....

 

yeah, exercise does help. I work out 2-3 times a week right before I go to bed and I feel relaxed.

 

I saw a study that says people in about their 20s should really get 9 hours a night. They stated it like anything less is actually unhealthy. Who has time for 9? (that sounded like a pick up line.. hehe)

I am fine with 6-7.

 

If I recall correctly, this SilverKnight is a gym freak. So yeah, he does work out.

For me, I'd like to get at least 8 to function properly, but still restful sleep does count just as much. Even 10 hours of unrestful sleep will leave me "disfunctional" and sick.

 

9 or 10 are preferable for me, but can never get that much. I like to stay up late, but then sleep late too.

I heard a guy on the radio talk about this sleep theory he subscribed to that he claimed worked great for him. It was based on the fact that REM cycles are about 90 minutes each (varies slightly between individuals).

According to the theory, you will gnerally feel the most rested if your sleep time is in 90 minute intervals. If you sleep 7.5 hours you will feel more rested than if you sleep eight because at eight hours you just woke up in the middle of a REM cycle and it is a shock to the brain. You might even feel more rested with 6 hours of sleep than with eight for the same reason. It is also why sometimes you can wake up at six and feel well rested but don't have to get up so you go back to sleep until seven and then feel totally wiped out.

Never paid enough attention to try it and see if it holds merit but it sounds plausible.

 

and another thing........

I also heard someone on the radio that wrote a book called "secrets of a long life" or something like that. The premise of the book was that they went and interviewed a few hundred really old geezers in their 90's and just asked tons of general questions and tried to find correlations between they way they lived their lives and why they lived so long.

Some of the things they found these people had in common was that for the most part, they all ate breakfast. These were people that had happier dispositions, were able to make new friends throughout all stages of life. Blah blah....lots of little stuff but some of very interesting. Anywho......they found that most of the really old folks were people that needed less than eight hours of sleep per night and some much less.

That is not to say that by cutting back your sleep will make you live longer, or if you like to sleep a lot you are a goner, they did not research that aspect.