How to Know How Much Sleep You Need
The amount of sleep a person needs depends on a variety of factors. Things to think about are the person's age and their individual needs. While some experts recommend getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night, there is no one correct amount of sleep that applies to everyone. While 8 hours of sleep may be ideal for some, others may need more or less sleep. Here are some ways to figure out how much sleep you need.
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Instructions
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How to Know How Much Sleep You Need
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Pay attention to how you function in your daily activities. Notice if you're frequently feeling tired or fatigued throughout the day. If you notice an interruption or lack of concentration in your normal activities such as work or school, it could be a sign that you're not getting enough sleep.
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Go to bed around the same time each night and wake up around the same time each morning. This will help your body get used to a specific sleeping pattern. It's also a good way to ensure you get a specific amount of sleep every night. If you wake up feeling refreshed and well rested, then you're getting enough sleep. On the other hand, if you wake up groggy and wanting to hit the snooze button on the alarm, you could probably use some more sleep.
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See if you've started getting bags under your eyes. While there are many different reasons people can get bags under their eyes, not getting enough sleep is among the top reasons. Lack of sleep can also be linked to illnesses such as depression, insomnia, headaches, increased risk of diabetes, and other illnesses.
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Notice if you've had any decrease in your normal energy level. If you're not getting enough sleep, you might feel sluggish, moody, and less alert. If you're getting enough sleep, you should feel more energized throughout your day.
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See how your body reacts to getting different amounts of sleep so you can know how much sleep works for you. Only you will be able to determine how your sleeping habits effect your day to day activities. Make note of days you get less sleep and see what changes you recognize. On the days you get more sleep also make note of any changes.
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Find a middle ground. Since getting too little or too much sleep can both have negative effects on your body and overall performance, try to find a number somewhere in between these two extremes.
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Factor in your age group in determining how much sleep you need. Babies need the most sleep and on average they may sleep about 16 to 18 hours per day. As you get older, you won't need to sleep as much with young children sleeping an average of 10-12 hours per day and older children and teenagers averaging around 8-9 hours per day. Many adults sleep between 7-8 hours each day. The averages will differ from person to person since we all have different sleeping needs and sleeping patterns change as we get older. Just be sure to try to get enough sleep for your age group.
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Tips & Warnings
See a doctor if you notice any sudden or reoccurring changes in your sleep pattern since there may be an underlying cause for this.
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- Photo Credit Photo courtesy of Expert Village
