Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

How much sleep should I get daily?

291 Answers
Last Updated: 09/03/2022 at 3:03pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United Kingdom
Moderated by

Graham Barrone, ICHP, MCBT

Counselor

Believing in and supporting you wholeheartedly, we cultivate gentle awareness for responsibility in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Together, we foster growth, improve your

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
June 22nd, 2016 8:46am
It depends on how much sleep will have you fully rested, it is usually around 6-10 hours a day. If you wake up feeling refreshed and energised, then you've slept the right amount of time :) however if you have any sleeping problems that may reduce the quality of your sleep then you may not feel rested even when you've slept long enough.
NaturalScience
June 26th, 2016 9:39pm
This depends on your metabolism, environment, age, health, and activity level. Most people do well with about 8 hours of sleep. As we get older, we may require less sleep. Over-sleeping and under-sleeping can leave us groggy. Experiment. Keep a log of when you go to bed, when you wake up, and how you feel. And if you just hiked 12 miles that day, sleeping extra is necessary! Recharge your body. After a good night of sleep, you should (as the Zen master tells us) be able to "cast off your sheets and jump out of bed as though you were on fire!"
Textingpals
October 30th, 2020 2:49pm
Sleep is necessary for a healthy mind and body. I think, one should sleep for eight hours a day. That necessarily doesn't mean you sleep for eight hours straight at night or something. You can divide the time slot into two parts: afternoon nap of one to two hours and a proper sleep of another six hours at night. If you can't manage to sleep for eight hours, you can try to get at least six hours of sleep. Have a healthy sleep schedule, and try to avoid using devices just before you go to bed for those disturb out sleep schedule.
Natalie04
July 1st, 2016 5:48am
If you are a teenager, 8-10 is the recommended amount of sleep you should get at night. As an adult, 7-9 hours is the recommended amount of sleep.
compassionateSunshine38
August 5th, 2016 6:09pm
Sleeping right time is the most important thing ..we must sleep atleast 6hours that too at the right time
lime9226
May 9th, 2018 5:46pm
Around 7-9 Hours of sleep, a night for the average person should be good for you! But it can depend on your age!
RainbowConnection74
May 19th, 2018 11:49pm
It differs from person to person, but usually between 7 and 9 hours is best for improving mood and concentration during the day
mysteriousButterfly2020
April 19th, 2020 7:48pm
That really depends on every person individually! Adults ages 18-25 should get between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. This is the same for adult between 26-64. Once you reach 65, you need at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night! This is according to the National Sleep foundation. Check out sleep.org for helpful information. Getting enough sleep can definitely be quite tricky. Here are some helpful tips to getting to sleep: -Stick to a sleep schedule, even on weekends. -Practice a relaxing bedtime ritual. -Exercise daily. -Evaluate your bedroom to ensure ideal temperature, sound and light. -Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows. -Beware of hidden sleep stealers, like alcohol and caffeine. -Turn off electronics before bed.
Anonymous
April 17th, 2020 8:58pm
How much sleep you need depends on you and your body, but generally speaking, it is recommended for healthy adults to get 7 to 9 hours of consecutive sleep every night. If you are sleeping more or less than the recommended amount, you may want to speak with a doctor. This could be normal for your body, but this could also be a sign of physical or mental health issues. Either way, it is always recommended that you practice good sleep hygiene by going to bed at the same time every night, avoiding stimulants like caffeine, and limiting naps during the day to about 30 minutes.
petitebrise
July 2nd, 2016 5:43am
The general recommended amount of sleep is 8 hours every evening. Different age groups sometimes require less or more. You can always find out what personally works for you. The best way to do this is to track how many hours you sleep every night for a month. At the beginning of the day, write down how many hours you slept. Before going to bed at the end of the day, write down how your energy level was during the day and if you noticed any side effects (headaches, fatigue, couldn't focus, etc). At the end of the month, look at what days you had the LEAST side effects and felt the MOST energetic, and find out how many hours of sleep you recorded the night before. There's your magic number!
Anonymous
July 13th, 2017 9:22am
Newborns (0-3 months ): Sleep range narrowed to 14-17 hours each day Infants (4-11 months): Sleep range widened two hours to 12-15 hours Toddlers (1-2 years): Sleep range widened by one hour to 11-14 hours Preschoolers (3-5): Sleep range widened by one hour to 10-13 hours School age children (6-13): Sleep range widened by one hour to 9-11 hours Teenagers(14-17): Sleep range widened by one hour to 8-10 hours Younger adults (18-25): Sleep range is 7-9 hours Adults (26-64): Sleep range did not change and remains 7-9 hours Older adults (65+): Sleep range is 7-8 hours
OaklandHarleyCoffee
July 13th, 2016 4:36pm
On average, a person should get around eight hours of sleep daily. This doesn't include laying there awake, or just sitting in bed. If you don't get around eight hours of sleep it can make you grouchy, tired and un happy. Sleep is important!
BooksHugsandTea6370
June 27th, 2018 5:22am
Hey, this is a great question! It shows you know that sleep is important for your body and your brain :) Unfortunately there is not a 'one size fits all' sort of answer for this question. How much sleep you need can depend on many things, like your age or your activity level during the day. Also consider things like your individual internal clock. A friend of mine wakes up at almost exactly 5:00am pretty much every day - without an alarm clock! :O Then there are other factors like, if you are on medications or if they have side effects of sleepiness. Other things to consider are how well you slept last night and your average for the last week. There are so many things to think about! This is a very good question to talk about with your doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist. For of course, they'd know you and your situation better than I do. Maybe a *very* simple answer would be, hey if you're tired, get some sleep :) or even take a nap. A good nap length is 20 - 60 minutes. Regarding naps, my doctor said naps are just fine, but "Set and alarm, and get up!" :)
Missionmagic101
August 6th, 2016 12:09am
You should get at least eight hours of sleep a day but the important is that when you wake up you feel well rested and feel like you have enough energy to enjoy your day.
PrettyCupcake00
February 28th, 2018 9:25am
Hey love! It actually varies on the quality of sleep but a normal human being should get 8 hours of sleep daily!
Anonymous
November 3rd, 2019 7:26am
Commonly known, humans should get sleep for around 7 to 9 hours a night but it varies from each different person. This gives the body and mind time to recover from day to day activities. If you're busy with work or other stuff that effects the sleeping time, at minimum you could try to get at least 1-3 hours sleep to reguvenate the mind and catch up on it later that day. The quality of your sleep directly affects your mental and physical health and the quality of your waking life, including your productivity, emotional balance, brain and heart health, immune system, creativity, vitality, and even your weight.
Anonfriend13796
April 19th, 2019 5:15am
Ideally 6-8 hours of sleep should suffice for a healthy active adult. However it is all in the mind and it majorly depends on the quality of sleep rather than the quantity. If you can wake up fresh and active after a good night's undisturbed sleep, it means you have slept well. Try reducing your stress levels and if you still feel you're not able to sleep properly, try some moderate form of exercise after meals before going to bed. This shall slightly tire you out and help you sleep better. If you still feel you're suffering from insomnia, you may consult a doctor who would prescribe anti anxiety drugs which would help you calm down and sleep.
Anonymous
November 8th, 2018 4:07am
How much sleep you get depends on the person. The average teen should get around 9 hours of sleep to function at his or her best. This rarely happens, but it is the recommended amount
ListeningUnicorn25
May 3rd, 2019 10:40pm
6 - 8 hours is healthy. If you are fatigued or exhausted, sometimes more sleep is better. If you can't sleep that long at once, try to nap when you can. It's not always easy to sleep when you have a lot on your mind, so make sure to try something relaxing before you go to bed or take a nap. Music, a book, meditation, or anything else that helps to calm you. Lack of sleep can exacerbate depression and anxiety. Personally, I sleep around 10 hours a day, but it's between night and naps because I suffer from insomnia. Always do what you can to help your health.
WarmHeart22
May 17th, 2019 9:14pm
The amount of sleep that you are required to get will depend mainly based on your health or your personal circumstances. However, it is important, on average, for the average human being, to get at least eight hours of sleep. This is because sleep has been provided to improve executive function significantly which is important for decision making and performing well in the workplace or at school. In addition, sleep can also improve the immune system of the individual which makes it easier to fend off diseases and less likely to be sick. If you do struggle with sleep, it can be attributed to a lack of melatonin levels or a problem with the hypothalamus in which sleep is regulated.
FrostedRose
May 30th, 2019 2:47am
The answer depends on various factors such as age, ethnicity/ancestry/genetics, nutrition, etc. There are developmental and post-developmental periods which require greater or lesser amounts of sleep. For some, 6 hours is adequate while others may need 8-10. The total hours spent sleeping may be split between naps and bedtime rest. The essential element when deciding how much sleep is necessary is whether or not you are capable of reaching REM sleep and the period following the end of the REM cycle. Naps should not surpass 20 minutes if 6 hours are acquired and REM sleep achieved. The average number of hours for an average adult to sleep at night is 8 hours.
Anonymous
May 30th, 2019 7:14am
The amount of sleep depends on how active you are, how long you work but also the difficulty of your work. Besides all of that. It depends on you age. There are helpful sites out there on the internet to help you with finding the best answer. You may also find it helpful to seek help by a doctor or a mental health specialist. If you do not feel comfortable with tgese methods of seeking help you can also seek help as a good friend to a certified listener on 7 cups of tea. I hope i answered your questions as good as possibly, i am not a doctor or mental health specialist.
LGBTQSupport
June 19th, 2019 2:42pm
This would probably be a good question for your doctor, as they know your health better than we would. Generally speak, 8 uninterrupted hours of sleep is good. I find for myself that I can function, and function properly with about 6 hours of sleep. Age has a lot to do with the suggested amount of sleep also. Here is a little chat based on age of the amount of sleep on should get, and this is according to the NSF (National sleep foundation): -Newborns (0-3 months): Sleep range narrowed to 14-17 hours each day (previously it was 12-18) -Infants (4-11 months): Sleep range widened two hours to 12-15 hours (previously it was 14-15) -Toddlers (1-2 years): Sleep range widened by one hour to 11-14 hours (previously it was 12-14) -Preschoolers (3-5): Sleep range widened by one hour to 10-13 hours (previously it was 11-13) -School age children (6-13): Sleep range widened by one hour to 9-11 hours (previously it was 10-11) -Teenagers (14-17): Sleep range widened by one hour to 8-10 hours (previously it was 8.5-9.5) -Younger adults (18-25): Sleep range is 7-9 hours (new age category) -Adults (26-64): Sleep range did not change and remains 7-9 hours -Older adults (65+): Sleep range is 7-8 hours (new age category) Good Luck, and Sweet Dreams!
Anonymous
July 14th, 2019 10:28am
Studies have shown that a minimum of 7 hours is the optimal amount of sleep anyone should get. Of course, every person is different, and some might need more, and some can do well with a little less. Try to test it out, you can do a little experiment. Start with 7 hours of sleep and see how you feel after a certain amount of time, let's say that you do this for two weeks. If you feel tired and have a hard time concentrating, then this might be a sign that 7 hours are not enough. Now you can gradually increase and see how you are starting to feel.
GermanZebraCupcake
July 24th, 2019 12:27am
My understanding is that the recommended amount of hours of sleep depends on one's age for the average. Babies and the elderly will, on average, will need more sleep than the average adult. Some studies have found that teenagers could also use up to 10 hours of sleep sometimes and still be within their recommended amount of sleep. The most important thing is setting a sleep schedule and listen to yourself. Check out when you feel the most rested as well as when you feel the most focused throughout the day. Some people even sleep 6 hours and take a nap in the middle of the day - it all just depends on your personal needs.
CareBear012303
July 24th, 2019 5:36pm
This really depends on your age. Adults typically need 7-9 hours of sleep whereas teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep. Generally, I get anywhere from 7 hours to 10 hours. It really depends on what I've done that day. I've also gotten questions on how can I fall asleep easier. If you have trouble falling asleep, before trying a sleep-aid, try coloring for an hour before you actually go to bed, take a 30 minute walk/run, journal, read, find something that slows your mind down long enough for -you to get those 7-10 hours of sleep that you need to be healthy :)
gentleSun78
July 25th, 2019 12:24pm
Scientists and doctors say that you should sleep approximatelly 7 - 8 hours per day, but it can depend also on each individual - everyone needs different amount of sleep. It matters more what quality is your sleep, therefore prepare for sleep well. Don't use computer and don't get triggered just before sleep. Get fresh air into room where you sleep and sleep in complete darkness if possible. It is also important to go to sleep every night at the same time if possible and that this time is at night as people are made to sleep at nights, not at days.
Anonymous
August 16th, 2019 6:38pm
8+ hours is sufficient for most people. But it can also differ from person to person. The recommendation for most is to get at least get 8 hours. Teens can benefit from a little more, as we're still growing. Maybe not height anymore as much, but in width definitely, and in the brain.
Anonymous
September 11th, 2019 2:42pm
Well defiantly not under 5 hours if you are a adult and not under 8 if you are a teen, but sometimes a person needs more because they don't feel very well, even if you aren't sick sometimes an extra 20 minutes can make a difference or maybe just a quick nap. When we are young our bodies are working on a tremendous speed and needs a lot of energy (not energy drinks) so we can save up on sleeping that way. Plus you won't have as deep dark bags under your eyes and will feel probably more refreshed. And it all basically depends on your schedule.
oliska1002
April 8th, 2020 12:25pm
As a person who wants to study psychology, I can safely say that sleep is crucial. And it has been shown time and time again, from a psychological perspective. If you sleep less than six hours, you are shortchanging the brain of learning restoration time, so you are less productive than usual. Additionally, shorter sleep means a shorter lifespan. Insufficient sleep can increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression, and anxiety. To answer the question concisely, I would just listen to the National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults sleep an average of eight hours a night. However, it varies greatly from person to person, but no one should go below six because it can be highly detrimental to your cognition. If you want to know more, you should check out a book by Matthew Walker, PhD "Summary & Discussions of Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams."