{"id":11064,"date":"2019-10-01T10:04:39","date_gmt":"2019-10-01T17:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/?p=11064"},"modified":"2023-09-11T11:51:31","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T18:51:31","slug":"how-much-sleep-do-you-really-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/how-much-sleep-do-you-really-need\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Sleep Do You Really Need Each Night?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Everyone has had that moment when they worry about not getting enough sleep. You crawl into bed, glance at the clock, and panic because it’s less than eight hours until you need to be up.<\/p>\n
For some people, getting anything less than eight hours of sleep equates to sleep deprivation. Yet, there are plenty of people who can get by on much less sleep. Some people can wake up the next day feeling well-rested after only five hours of sleep. If sleep patterns vary so much by individual needs, then how much sleep do you really need?<\/p>\n
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A healthy adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep every night, and following a consistent sleep schedule<\/a> will help you function at your best. It is possible to get by on less sleep, but you won’t be functioning optimally.<\/p>\n Seven or eight hours of sleep might sound indulgent to people who scrape by on much less each night.\u00a0Many living hectic lives may be getting by on six hours a night<\/a>\u00a0or less. Over time, this sleep schedule turns into chronic sleep deprivation; and though you may think you can thrive on less than seven hours of sleep, the lack of rest can take a toll on your mind and body without you even realizing.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, you cannot go weeks, months, or years on very little sleep and then spend a few days in bed to recover. There is no way to \u201ccatch up on sleep\u201d when you\u2019re chronically sleep deprived.<\/p>\n As you age, the amount of sleep you need fluctuates. Children need more sleep<\/a> than adults. Infants can sleep up to 19 hours a day, while a toddler needs about 12 hours to get a good night’s rest. School children and teenagers need at least nine hours to optimize their health and well-being. Older people tend to have poorer sleep quality as they age. Adults over 60 may find they get better sleep by adding an afternoon nap to their routine.<\/p>\n Below, we break down the recommended sleep needs by age.<\/p>\n\nSleep Needs by Age<\/h2>\n