How Many Hours of Sleep Do I Need?

We spend one-third of our lives asleep, and getting a good night’s sleep is super important. Especially as it affects everything from our brain power and memory to our mood and energy levels. But ask two people how much sleep we actually need and you’ll likely get two different answers. Some swear by 6 hours a night while others think 9 hours is about right. If you find yourself wondering how much do I need, the truth is, there’s no single figure that’s correct for everybody.

Sleeping may seem like your time to relax, rest, and dream; however, sleep has more impact on your health and lifestyle than you might think. Your quality of sleep is directly linked to and affects how you feel during the day as well as both your physical and mental health. Here are several reasons why a good night’s sleep is important:

• It regulates the hormones that control your appetite, metabolism, growth, and healing
• Boosts productivity, concentration, focus and creativity
• Improves reaction time, speed, and athletic performance
• Regulates and aids with weight management
• Promotes a healthy heart by reducing the risk for heart disease and stroke
• Helps to heal illness and boosts your immune system
• Lowers risks for chronic health conditions
• Helps with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety

Other factors that determine how much sleep you need are your overall quality of sleep (specifically how much deep sleep you’re getting) as well as any sleep debt you may have. If your sleep is interrupted a lot, you may need more hours of sleep to compensate for the lack of quality sleep you’re receiving. If you’ve been sleep-deprived and have lost a couple of hours of sleep, you’ll likely be suffering from sleep debt and will need to make up for this lost sleep time in a future sleep cycle.

Pregnancy also affects sleep and how much sleep you need each night. As a soon-to-be-mum, your body goes through a huge change in hormones and you may need extra hours of sleep to account for this. It also takes a lot of energy to nourish your baby and it can be difficult finding a comfortable sleeping position during pregnancy. Therefore, during pregnancy, especially in your first 3 months you may feel more tired and require more sleep than usual.

If you regularly don’t get enough sleep, you could end up suffering from sleep deprivation. If so, it’s likely your body will send signals that you need to increase your hours. These symptoms include:

• Falling asleep or being drowsy during the day
• Being irritable and moody
• Lack of motivation and not as productive
• Struggle to focus and might have trouble remembering
• Decision-making and judgement are harder
• You may be more hungry than usual, causing weight gain
• Physical changes appear such as dark circles under the eye or a general dull complexion
• Your immune system may be weak, leading to sickness
• You’re depressed or anxious and generally in a low mood

Getting yourself into a routine and adopting these healthy habits during the day and at night can help you get more sleep. We’ll explore some tips below:

During the day:

• Exercising can be a good way to tire your body out, but make sure you work out a few hours before bed to give your body time to wind down, or it might lead to trouble shutting off.
• Increasing your exposure to sunlight during the day can help maintain your body’s natural circadian rhythm, helping you feel tired as the day comes to an end.
• If you decide to take a nap, do so in the earlier part of the day. Taking a nap in the late afternoon can throw off your sleep cycle and you’ll feel wide awake when it comes to going to sleep later.
• Try to establish a sleep schedule and routine; wake up and go to sleep at the same time as this helps your body clock.

Before bed:

• Try to limit or avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugary foods; these can interrupt your sleep.
• Switch off electronics at least 30 minutes before going to bed. The blue light from devices can stimulate your brain and make it harder to fall asleep.
• Set some time aside to relax and wind down before bed, whether this is meditation, taking a bath, or listening to music.
• Shortly before sleeping, keep your room cool and dark; this helps you fall asleep easier.

If you can’t fall asleep, don’t worry, get out of bed and wind down until you start feeling tired and try again. If you often struggle to get back to sleep, read our article on how to get back to sleep in the middle night. Getting a good night’s sleep is important but remember there’s no magic number to how much sleep you need. Pay attention to your body and you’ll soon start to discover a recommended amount of sleep that’s right for you.