The short answer: adults need 6 to 9 hours per night. Around 7 to
7.5 hours of actual sleep (not counting time falling asleep and getting out
bed) appears to be optimal for most people.
The long answer: it depends. The amount of sleep each person
needs depends on many factors, including age, health, recent physical exertion,
and mental activity. There is genetic influence, too. Some people just need
more sleep than others and this runs in families.
Sleep is a vital indicator of overall health and well-being. We
spend up to one-third of our lives asleep, and the overall state of
our"sleep health" remains an essential question throughout our
lifespan.
Most of us know that getting a good night’s sleep is important,
but too few of us actually make those eight or so hours between the sheets a
priority. For many of us with sleep debt, we’ve forgotten what “being
really, truly rested” feels like.
To further complicate matters, stimulants like coffee and energy
drinks, alarm clocks, and external lights—including those from electronic
devices—interferes with our "circadian rhythm" or natural
sleep/wake cycle.
Sleep needs vary across ages and are especially impacted by
lifestyle and health. To determine how much sleep you need, it's important to
assess not only where you fall on the "sleep needs spectrum," but
also to examine what lifestyle factors are affecting the quality and quantity
of your sleep such as work schedules and stress.
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