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Sleep - 2/7/2010 8:50:11 PM
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MellyL
Posts: 93
Joined: 2/10/2008
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Just wanting to rack your brains and start a conversation about sleep. Some questions I have to get this started are:
Can we catch up? Does sleeping in on the weekends make up for a lack of sleep during the week?
Does everyone need about 8 hours a night (personally I do)? Are there people that need more? Are there people that feel great everyday on less than 8 hours?
Thank you!
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RE: Sleep - 2/7/2010 10:16:30 PM
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stellaluna
Posts: 4252
Joined: 4/11/2005
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They say that lost sleep cannot be regained and that most people are operating with a sleep deficit--not getting enough hours per night. I do well on 7-8, but I try to get as close to 8 as possible. I used to not believe all the experts, but about three years ago I stopped by "night owl" ways. Now I go to bed and get up the same time every single day, even on weekends. I also no longer drink caffeine after noon. I have one cup of regular coffee for breakfast and sometimes a diet soda for lunch and that's it. It has made all the difference and I've never felt better.
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RE: Sleep - 2/7/2010 10:39:44 PM
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jhuperetes
Posts: 1948
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I live on about 6 to 7 hours weekdays, and on the weekend I do sleep 8+ hours.
I think I am doing just fine as long as I "catch up" within a reasonable time frame.
I do get more tired and headaches if I sleep too much in one period.
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RE: Sleep - 2/8/2010 2:14:32 AM
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desert_rose
Posts: 483
Joined: 4/14/2005
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Not everyone needs 8 hours. Some need more, others need less. My sister and I are great examples. If I'm anywhere near healthy I literally cannot sleep 8 hours (I usually sleep 5-6, and naturally wake up). Meanwhile, she can barely function with under 10 hours. I'm like my Dad was - he didn't need a lot of sleep either. My Mom needed more like the "normal" 8 hours but not anything near what my sister sleeps. My sleep doc says that 8 hours is a myth when they say "everyone" needs to sleep that much. What you need is the amount that you can sleep and naturally wake up after - like how I sleep 5-6 - or at least so he says. Though he does say that "catching up" is impossible. You might be extra tired and thus sleep more, but you're not really "catching up". Worse, you're messing up your sleep cycles and daily/circadian rhythm which can set you up for further sleep troubles. So it's better not to do it if you can avoid it.
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RE: Sleep - 2/8/2010 11:31:31 AM
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gbcmusicguy
Posts: 53
Joined: 1/21/2009
From: New Castle, IN
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I'm alot like you there Desert_Rose, I don't need much sleep either. I'm usually best at about 6hrs worth. If I get 8 hrs, I'm groggy all day. And my dad is that way also.
I can't take good naps either. I guess I'm a "power napper". A 15 minute nap and my eyes pop open! Can't even make myself go back to sleep. My wife is a "marathon napper". If she has the time to get 2 hrs, she can do it!
Musicguy
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RE: Sleep - 2/8/2010 3:25:25 PM
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JustaFan
Posts: 772
Joined: 4/24/2006
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I sleep about four or five hours. Even on weekends when I try to sleep more I naturally wake up. If I try to go back to sleep I don't sleep soundly, and I have really, really weird dreams that are very vivid and often disturbing.
I also find that I'm better off pulling an all nighter than just sleeping two or less hours. I guess I don't power nap. A little sleep is worse than no sleep.
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Judith
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RE: Sleep - 2/8/2010 9:46:22 PM
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Walker311
Posts: 827
Joined: 4/11/2005
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I want to answer your questions based on what I've read and experienced.
Does sleeping in on the weekends make up for a lack of sleep during the week? No! Sleeping in will basicly mess up your normal sleep time during the week and it is suggested that you go to bed and wake up on weekends just as you do during the week days.
Can we catch up? You can as far as resting but sleeping more will only cause you problems in getting back to your normal schedule.
Does everyone need about 8 hours a night Some can do very well on only 4 and some need as much as 10 to 12 hours a night. Overall, it is best to shoot for at least 7 or 8 hours.
I am in bed around 10:30 and usually in la la land around 11:10 and then up at 5:30. I do very well on around 6 hours. We need several hours of REM sleep.
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RE: Sleep - 2/8/2010 10:56:35 PM
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sunshine4God
Posts: 5862
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Sterling Ct.
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I am a night owl and always up till aleast 1.I love sleeping though so
usually get around 9-9 1/2 hrs sleep.Ever since I was a kid I've always slept more than the average person.
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RE: Sleep - 2/9/2010 11:53:55 AM
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thebaker
Posts: 455
Joined: 11/25/2009
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i used to be a nite owl until 2004 when my eating habits changed. now i'm the exact opposite. i'm up early and in bed early. they say it's supposed to make you healthy, wealthy, and wise. got the health and i got the wisdom. i guess 2 out of 3 ain't bad. i have found that regular sleep habits does make it easier to fall asleep at nite. usually i'm alseep within 2-3 minutes...5 minutes max, depending on how long it takes me to get completely adjusted under the covers.
i don't do regular naps. regular naps will mean i'll be awake all nite. power naps (15 minutes max) are perfect. when i worked in a shelter, because our department was closed during lunch AND since lunch is the time for you to do whatever, many of us took naps for part of our lunch break. it was the best thing. i think every employer should make an effort to offer it.
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RE: Sleep - 2/12/2010 12:45:38 AM
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Bettawrekonize
Posts: 466
Joined: 4/17/2005
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I heard somewhere that a protein deficiency can make it more difficult for someone to sleep (though that protein needs to be accompanied by carbohydrates as well?). Supposedly, this is because protein synthesis mostly takes place at night? This doesn't seem to be the consensus when I perform a google search (in fact, many websites say to avoid protein before sleep because protein will keep you awake even). But it does make sense since eating food with protein often makes you tired, it could just be that the lack of protein made it more difficult for you to get enough sleep and now that you ate protein you can sleep and so you get tired. It also helps explain why (warm) milk supposedly helps people sleep.
Anyways, I find that peanut butter and yogurt help me sleep and I know someone else that finds that yogurt helps them sleep. It also seems like protein absorption rate is important somehow and it's good to eat something high in protein that absorbs slowly (ie: peanut butter).
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RE: Sleep - 2/12/2010 1:40:56 AM
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Bettawrekonize
Posts: 466
Joined: 4/17/2005
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Regarding how much sleep one needs, I would say that everyone is different and that many factors, including age, diet, genetic makeup, maybe even gender, etc... probably influence how much sleep you need. It seems like the amount of sleep one needs is not an exact science.
(the following is boring and probably irrelevant)
The problem with these kinds of questions is that they don't specify what you are trying to accomplish and it's difficult to answer a question like this without knowing what someone is trying to accomplish. Well, you might answer that you are trying to accomplish "good health." But what exactly does that mean and how can we scientifically quantify good health. Some criteria might include
Quantity of life/Longevity (how long you live). This is easily quantifiable.
Physical attributes (ie: weight, stamina, speed, strength, etc...). Again, this can be easily quantifiable.
Mental capabilities. This can be harder to quantify. Should we base how "smart" someone is on their IQ?
Quality of life. Again, this can be difficult to quantify.
Susceptibility to illness. This can be quantified to some extent. Studies can be conducted on different groups of people who have different sleep patterns to determine which group is least susceptible to illness. Of course one must define illness (ie: a viral infection).
Once you have defined what you want to accomplish with the amount of sleep you get, then it's easier to answer such a question, but even then it's difficult since everyone is different.
"Can we catch up?"
Again, depends on what exactly you are trying to accomplish. What is it that you have "lost" that you are trying to "gain back." Is it your ability to run fast? Lift a certain amount of weight? Longevity? etc...
In general the proper amount of sleep is very important and my attempts to quantify everything have many shortcomings.
< Message edited by Bettawrekonize -- 2/12/2010 2:15:27 AM >
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