To think some people don't prioritise sleep enough?

[Hadtocomment]

Reading the other thread where various posters seemed to be getting somewhat competitive about how early they get up etc. I was genuinely curious as to if people getting up seriously early also go to bed really early. We know sleep is important to health and people maybe need different amounts too. I was also taken aback by judgemental comments implying that the op should look at her diet and exercise if she was needing so much sleep as though enjoying sleep was some sort of health problem! So I just wondered. How much sleep do you need/get? And those getting up super early are you going to bed super early too to get enough hours or do you naturally not need much sleep?

myself I reckon I need around 8 and a half to 9 hrs to feel optimum and I've always been like this. I can manage on a bit less for some days but catches up with me and have to make it up at some point.

(I understand those with small children may be getting a lot less sleep for a while or broken up sleep and don't want this thread to be ignorant towards those struggling with sleep as I know that can be really tough. )

I seem to be in the minority but 7/8 feels good to me. 9+ makes me feel really groggy and horrible!

My sleep routine is shot to pieces lately, mainly I think due to stress. I am exhausted and can call asleep on the sofa at 8.30am but something in me will not let me go to bed. Like someone said earlier, 8/9pm is a child's bedtime plus I love my me time when the

... children are asleep.
So I have broken sleep most nights and will go to bed around midnight, prat around on my phone and go to sleep around 1-2am, getting up around 7.30am .

I need to put in place a proper bedtime and wind down routine, like a child!

I need 6/7 hours to feel my best. I have a new born who won't sleep unless held so I just live from nap to nap at the moment, its as well I love her as much as I do as it's like fucking torture being so sleep deprived

What is this thing called sleep ???

( been awake for hours - bet I drop off an hour before my alarm goes off )

I never appreciated how important proper sleep is until I had children.

Fuck me, I'm tired. I'm so tired.

My children are still very young, hence my tiredness, but as soon as they're old enough to stop waking me up through the night and then up for the day at the crack of dawn, I'm going to make damned sure I'm getting 8 or 9 hours a night as many nights as is possible. I prioritise it much more than I used to.

I'm not remotely impressed by people who smugly tell me that they're running on 4 or 5 hours by choice and that's all they need, and their faux shock at others who sleep until they are fully rested. They sound like miserable martyrs and it's absolutely nothing to be proud of.

I try to turn out the light between 9:30 & 10, would get up at 7 usually. I have chronic pain (not major) which is just enough to mean the second half of the night can be broken. I definitely need 8-9 hours.

There’s some really interesting research showing that people who “cope” on less sleep often actually have drops in function similar to if you’re drunk but they feel like they’re fine.

I’m a disaster if I don’t get enough sleep, I wouldn’t call it depression because it only lasts as long as it takes to get a good night sleep but I very quickly tip into feelings/behavior as if I’m depressed.

I always used to have a solid 8 hours and always felt fine after that.

Since getting Rheumatoid Arthritis, I wake up about 3am in pain, so need to get painkillers. I can't get back to sleep after that. So the max I get is about 5 hours.

I sometimes fall asleep in the chair in the evenings, or I can end up staying awake until we go to bed at about 10pm.

I would give anything to get my 8 hours back.

I get 4 hours if I'm lucky and also have sleep apnea

I go to bed early and wake up early. I am using a sleep tracker that tells me the quality of my sleep. Even though I was in bed for 8 hours I actually was asleep for 6 and a half which is better than it has been. It also records my snoring which is fun to listen to!

I am trying to get assessed for sleep apnea so am doing lots to improve my sleep. I have an incline pillow and I use nasal dilators to improve my nose breathing when asleep.

When I was younger I always resented working the 9-5 as it meant that the only time I had to myself, once I'd eaten my evening meal, was the bit after 7pm so I'd stubbornly stay up doing things I liked until about midnight. The older I've become the more I've given in to the fact that I must prioritise my sleep. I try to get to sleep by 9pm and though I set my alarm for 6.30am it very rarely wakes me. I tend to get 7-8 hours. Every morning when I leave my bed to face the commute I can't wait until the moment I'm back in it!

I'm the only one in work with kids and I want to cry when everyone talks about only having eg 6 hours sleep or needing to be in bed by 8 or 9 or having lie ins or staying up late and being wrecked, I'm home at 7, spend time with the kids, get the place sorted out and it's 10 or sometimes after. If I want to write(I write books, goal is ft author) I'm later but I don't much anymore. Both my 7 year old and 9 year old sometimes get nightmares, the kids are going through stages of getting sick and 7yo gets nosebleeds some nights too. I need to be out of the house by 8 and before that it's organising to get them ready for school. When I get sleep the difference... I can't even. I miss it so much. Myself and dh are like broken zombies

Ps Dh works ft from home and looks after the kids, half the time he only gets work done after they're in bed

Seems to make no difference to me whether I get 6 or 8/9 hrs of (broken - always wake at least twice either just because or because of children - been like it al my life). I'm knackered when I actually get up but fine once I've done it. If I only get 3/4 hrs I'm buzzing and don't feel tired until 2pm and I hit a wall.

I sleep on average 6h a night I can sometimes stretch it to 7hours but 8-9 is unheard of for me.
I went to bed at midnight last night and woke up naturally at 5.
I guess its just my nature, I rarely use an alarm clock, and I'm generally not tired during the day

Oh op if only it were as easy as you think.

Many of us prioritise sleep to the point of obsession but just can't get to sleep. If only it were as simple as just going to bed at a sensible time.

I agree with you generally - it's one of the reasons that I am pro sleep training, it's really bad for your health to be woken regularly for years. I have friends with bad sleepers who have visibly aged 10 years in 2.

However, the thread you refer to was extremely odd - the OP was getting up at 11, then doing an hour or so while her 6 year old played on her own after school. Most people would get up in time to wave off their child at 8 and then be able to get everything done for school pick up time. While there definitely are some genuine night owls, I used to be one, struggling to get out of bed when not a shift worker can be a sign of depression

During the week I would never have 8 hours sleep, possibly at weekends I might. I get up at 7, during the week (but often wake during the night) but I rarely go to bed before 11pm.

I think there are different groups if I'm honest. I think there are life periods and reasons why people either can't prioritise sleep or can't sleep because of say medical conditions

I think most parents with young children have to sacrifice sleep and have to do that for several years. Obviously others want to prioritise sleep but can't due to medical issues.

However I absolutely agree with you there are a contingent of people who seem to hold lack of sleep as a medal of honour.

Its the same group who believe you should also only need a piece of Kale and sip of water to get through the day. Mostly people like this are so utterly bereft of any other personality traits they can only really excel in depriving themselves of things.

They often seem to crow about that old story about Margaret Thatcher who apparently only slept 4 hours a night. I always want to remind them she was running and entire country with all the pressures that Brought , not really the same as working in insurance is it.

I am always amazed at people like the Pp whose ex claimed people don't "need" more than 7 hours, unless they are a specifically trained doctor who has lived inside everyone's body then they know nothing (glad he's an ex pp)

It's the same group who lean forward, tilt their head and patronisingly ask " Do you actually need that doughnut".

Yes I need the doughnut , the lie in and whatever the hell else makes life a bit better !!

I often wonder this too. People saying they haven't had more than 4 hours sleep in years (not due to children, usually perimenopause or insomnia). I take drugs for my mental health, and if I sleep less than 8 hours a night for more than 5 days, the doctor told me to take extra so I can stay asleep. HRT and other drugs were invented so people can sleep, and if they had high blood pressure or diabetes, they would take medicine, but with insomnia, they choose to whinge and suffer for years from a disease that is treatable for nearly all people who take drugs for it. And sleep loss affects how your metabolism works, how you store fat, when you feel hungry, your mood, you immune system and loads more. It just isn't worth it to me to get to that point.

Sorry I meant I was amazed at the Ex, not the PP

I can't imagine why anyone would brag about a lack of sleep. I'm the opposite and sleep as much as I can and love it.

Alarm goes off at 6:30 in the morning and, despite going to bed at anything around 9:45-10:15, I could sleep for couple more hours.

I have ME (a chronic fatigue condition). When I’m well I sleep from between 9 & 10pm to 7am. I find routine really helps so I do the same 7 days per week so 9 or 10 hours per night. When I’m having a flare up my ability to sleep goes out of whack and I either can’t get good sleep or find that even 12 hours a night still leaves me exhausted.

Sleep is important!

But…when do the people who go to bed between 9-10 get anything done?

My kids are in bed for 8. Then we’re squaring up. Maybe doing a bit of work. Getting stuff organised for the morning. Then we sit down to watch tv. When do you sit down at watch a box set etc if you’re in bed at 9pm? If you’re working don’t you need that time to have a life outside work?!

I am sure I don’t get enough; I average about six hours but by and large I am fine with this.

I have to say though I find it slightly irritating when people get preachy about sleep. The reality is 8 hours is impossible for many people. I am a single mum with a full on job and there wouldn’t be enough hours in the day for me to guarantee 8 hours a night.

I’m sure 8 hours makes you feel great but it’s a bit like saying everything should only eat macrobiotic food and do four hours of meditation a day. Of course that would be great but who actually can do this? It’s a luxury not an essential.