How Much Sleep Should I Get? National Sleep Foundation Article

National Sleep Foundation Article: How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?

This article asserts that sleep is vital to our overall health and that we spend about 1/3 of our lives asleep.

Do you remember what if felt like to be “really truly rested”?

Sleep recommendations vary across ages.

• Newborns 0 -3 months of age need between 14 – 17 hours each night.
• Infants 4-11 months of age need between 12-15 hours each night.
• Toddlers 1-2 years of age need between 11-14 hours each night.
• Preschoolers 1-2 years of age need between 10-13 hours each night.
• School-age children 6-13 years of age need between 9-11 hours each night.
• Teenagers 14-17 years of age need between 8-10 hours each night.
• Younger adults 18-25 years of age need between 7-9 hours each night.
• Adults 26-64 years of age need between 7-9 hours each night. *Same as younger adults
• Older adults over 64 years of age need between 7-8 hours each night.

It is important to pay attention to how you feel after getting varying amounts of sleep. You will be able to decide how much you need to feel rested.

The article suggests that you ask yourself questions to determine the amount of sleep best for you.  For example, Do you feel better at the bottom of the range or the top? Do you depend on caffeine to get you through the day? Do you feel sleepy when you drive?

We should all make sleep a priority!