To think that actually most adults need more than the recommended 7-8 hours sleep a night?

[Arrowfanatic]

I can cope fairly well on minimal sleep, having 3 no sleeping kids helped with that. But I tend to find if I can get 9-10 hours that's when I'm best refreshed.

I know advice is 7-8 hours for adults (and that lie ins are not recommended, that's it better to keep the exact same bedtimes & waking times), but I also know 7 hours just feels like I've not slept enough.

My children all live happily and energetically on around 5 hours a night. They're 10, 8 & 7.

So, who are these adults that are full of beans on 7-8 hours?

I once slept for just shy of 12 hours & felt so disoriented, but also so very happy!

My DH doesn't need much sleep, he's been a shift worker for 16 years so he says he's just used to it (this works as he gets up with the kids ) but every few weeks or so he'll crash and sleep on and off for a full day, mixed between night time, sofa naps and bed naps.

I think it depends on how intensively you live your life! I am okay on seven hours or even much less sleep than that, but I am very slow at everything and I really don’t understand how some people can get so much done!

OMG, yes! I feel like death with less than 8, and really need about 10. There does seem to be some weird competitive under-sleeping though, I've found

I asked Alexa and she said it's between 7-8 hours a night but no less than 6 hours and no more than 9 hours for most adults.

I generally sleep for 7 and a half hours then wake up naturally. I probably get about 8 hours at the weekend

I work nights and im lucky if i get 4 hours during the day. I do sort of make up for it when ive not got a night shift.

Gosh!! If I get 5-6 hours that's a good night, usually that is broken in to several blocks of 1-2 hours with a wakeful section in between.
Yes I am tired but just get on with it.
Work FT, 4 kids, menopausal. No time for extra naps or lie ins (also work weekends) c'est la vie

I’m best refreshed after 9-10 hours but that’s more about catching up on sleep. I can’t imagine sleeping that much every night although maybe as a student I managed to.
Pre children I felt like I did a bad days work on less than 8 but since having children I feel pretty normal after 6 hours especially if that’s an uninterrupted stretch

I am best on 8 hours but can cope fine on 7 plus. When im off work though i easily have 10 and feel great! My DC (young teens) are different. One has 8 hours max and is a lark. The other can easily have 12 hours at the weekend!

I'm best on 9 or 10 but rarely get that in one stretch.
Best I get in about 8 get up to pee then back to sleep for a couple of hours.
I tend to get more done if I wake early or cant sleep though as I want to get it out the way so when I'm tired later I have bare minimum to do.

Too much sleep is actually detrimental to health- google it, lots of studies on this.
7-8 hours is the recommended amount.

4-5 hours. Then I'm up and in the shower as I have to be on duty for 6.30. I'm long gone before anybody is awake.

I cannot cope on anything less than 7, but fatigue is part of my chronic condition. I usually have 8 to 10 hours plus naps. However my DH is fine on about 3 hours, he is some sort of alien I think. I think it depends on the person really.

7 hrs is fine for me during the week, I can manage on less, although I prefer 8 at weekends. Anymore than 8 and I’m slow, foggy and headachey.

I have heard you need less sleep as you get older, not sure if that's true.

Not in my case! I'm in my early 60s and seem to need more than 30 years ago.

I need eight and a half to feel ok.

If I slept for more than about 9 hours I'd feel terrible all day. Headachey and tired and emotional.

8 to 9 hours would be a really nice lie in, 7 to 8 would be a great night's sleep. In reality I probably get about 5 to 6 hours, because I have difficulty sleeping.

When you all talk about 7 or 8 hours is that uninterrupted?

I barely seem to do 2-3 hours without waking inbetween

I am so envious

My DM used to say that thing about hours before midnight being worth 2 hours than those after midnight or something like that. I think it's true! I had about 5 days of getting to bed very late 3amish but still slept about 8 hours. I was exhausted. I was so tired the next night I went to bed at 9pm and slept til 11am and did the same thing the next 2 nights! I think in general I function better on 9 hrs. I remember from the baby days - 5hrs uninterrupted I could get by on - anything less I thought I was dying!

I am always tired. My 5 month old goes about an hour and a half at night. I think if I was getting 7-8 hours every night I would feel refreshed.. the times I get a lie in I feel better because I need to catch up on my hours!

I think it's pretty individual. Luckily DH and I have a similar pattern.

7 is not enough, 8 is ok, 9 would be lovely but never happens.

I've just retired and I'm sleeping 12 midnight to 10am. I've never felt better!

6-7 hours is best for me. If I sleep longer I feel groggy and shit.

I usually have around 8 hours per night. But then I'll lie in / early night at some point cos I'm shattered so end up average of 9 hours per night. No way is 7 enough

What's sleep? I can't remember, had my baby in June last year 😂😂

I need 9 hours but my DH insists on checking whether I'm still alive after about 7 hours. Argh!

6.5-7 feels best for me.