Sleeping only 5 - 6 hours every night. Anyone else on the same boat?

[btfly2]

Being active and doing things for 18 hours a day! Small breaks in between but still with energy. Aibu to think that's not unusual or is actually a bit crazy? Do I need to visit the doctor?

I sleep less than 5-6 hours a night, on average (a lot less, possibly). I've had chronic insomnia since I was about 11 and now that I'm less 'active' in the day (due to illness/various conditions) I really struggle to get to sleep. I'd say if you're active and are struggling to sleep, I'd see a doctor rather than suffer and get into an endless cycle. Good luck!

Are you trying to sleep for longer and not managing it?

Yep. Shift worker, chronically sleep deprived and unable to sleep when I finally get to bed.

That's fairly normal for me. I don't think you need to worry about it unless you feel tired and want to sleep more but can't.

I am often awake into the small hours. I tend to doze off in front of the TV earlier in the evening and then I am wide awake later on. Once I eventually get to sleep, I usually will sleep until the alarm goes off - and wake up feeling like I need 3 more hours of sleep! I seem to be in the wrong time zone! Ideally, if I could just sleep when I feel like it, I would go to bed around 2.00am and get up at around 9.30. As it is, I struggle to wake up after only about 4 or 5 hours sleep and feel tired for most of the day.

i have quality sleep for approx 3.5 hours per night according to my fitbit and i function
so unless you have sometine to monitor your sleeping pattern your perceive sleep might not be accurate

i should add im generally in bed for appriox 8 hours but not sleeping as such for all that time

I'd be thrilled with 5-6 hours but then I have a small baby. Your body adapts to less sleep.

Yes im here with you. If i go to bed too early it means im awake at 2am laying there, then if i do fall back asleep im shattered when my alarm goes off.

Currently got 4.5 hours until the alarm....

I'm still wide awake and expect to get 5 hours sleep at most. I can't even blame it on shift work or a baby.

Forgot to add - i can go to sleep but i cant sleep straight through! So maybe not insomnia as such. I need a LOT of sleep though, so i either go to bed early and wake up in the night for a few hours, then fall back asleep and wake to my alarm shattered. Or i go to sleep really late, dont wake up, but am still shattered as i havent had as much sleep as i need. Its impossible for me to wake up refreshed unless i dont need to get up in the morning (which is never!) and i hate it, my days are always started on a negative and im sick of feeling like complete shit every morning!

No it's normal for some people. 5 hours max for me. I don't count hours - if I'm not tired my body won't sleep and there is no point in stressing over it. I love being the only one awake while my family are all safe and asleep. It's lovely and quiet at night and it's when I do all my thinking 😀

I was getting 4-5 hours in my worst periods of insomnia, and started seeing things in the corner of my eye while driving, or acted way clumsier than usual.

I saw a sleep specialist, and he said that anything less than 7 on a continued basis is sleep deprivation. A recent mass sleep study said the same thing. Sure I "functioned"went to the gym, got plenty of fresh air, SAHM to two small boysbut I was also prone to bouts of irritability, and slumped like a sad sack daily at 3pm.

I'm glad I'm over it. Magnesium supplementation was a huge help, and for a glorious five months I was on sleep meds and gradually weaned off them. Now I take Magnesium baths, no screens after 8pm, use the headspace app, and try to keep sugar to an absolute minimum.

But what age are you Btfyl2?

I sleep from around 1.30 or 2ish until 6.30 on weekdays. It's quality sleep and perfectly normal for me. Usually sleep an hour or two longer at weekends. It's not a problem unless you feel tired and/or have difficulty sleeping when you want to.

" I love being the only one awake while my family are all safe and asleep. It's lovely and quiet at night and is when I do all my thinking"

notangelinajolie that's exactly what I do, like too!

That is normal for me

Stopgap thank you for your message.

Are you tired during the day? If not then there's nothing wrong with just grabbing a little sleep. Margaret Thatcher slept 3 hours (or maybe 4) a night.

Whatever works for you!

80sMum - I share your timezone. My ideal sleep is 2-9.30 as well.
I need some time on my own and the only time I get that is after everyone else is in bed so I stay up later and fall asleep watching TV.
I like a siesta in the afternoon as well.