What is enough sleep for you/us? Is 6 hours of sleep enough? Should we be getting more or less? Let's discuss a bit…
It seems more and more I hear people talking about struggles with sleeping. Sometimes I hear people brag that they can thrive on 2-3 hours of sleep and then others say that 8 hours is mandatory for adults.
I have my own struggles with sleep and working to improve my success and follow the 8 hour rule of belief. I consistently get 5-6 hours and 8 hours on a good night, but I’m working on understanding sleep better to get back to my 8 hours. I recall being more productive and stable in these times.
I know with my kids if they do not get enough sleep they turn into a different person. I think the same may be true for adults. In this article, I’m going to explore length of sleep and try to answer the big question… is 6 hours of sleep enough for an adult.
It is a common misconception that a few hours of sleep is enough for most people to function properly, but is 6 hours of sleep enough? What about less than 6 hours?.
Many people believe they can get by on this amount of sleep, but only a small select group of outliers can operate effectively on such limited rest.
Sleep is the number one most important part of living a healthy life, and not getting enough can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. Therefore, it is essential to understand why six hours is not sufficient for the vast majority of individuals and how much sleep we should be aiming for instead.
How 6 Hours of Sleep Affects Your Body and Mind
Six hours of sleep is simply not enough for most people, and this can result in various negative effects on both the body and mind. Long-term sleep deprivation, which includes regularly getting 6 hours of sleep, is linked to increased risks of many health issues, such as the following:
- Not getting enough sleep (6 hours or less) is linked to an increased risk of diabetes, stroke, heart disease, depression, and weight gain.
- 6 hours of sleep can lead to fatigue, lack of concentration and focus, irritability or moodiness, weakened immune system, and generally poor performance in any task.
- Those who only get 6 hours of sleep on a regular basis may find their energy levels depleted throughout the day.
- Poor quality sleep is associated with increased stress hormones, which can negatively affect your overall health.
- Long-term sleep deprivation is linked with premature mortality due to its damaging effects on physical and mental health.
How Much Sleep You Really Need
So, if 6 hours of sleep or less is not enough, how much do you really need? Getting 8-9 hours of sleep is the best for most people. That is how long our body needs to rest and relax. Not getting enough sleep can make you feel tired, grumpy, and more likely to get sick. Six hours is not enough for most people, so it is important to try and get 8-9 hours of sleep each night.
Getting enough sleep is essential for living a healthy lifestyle. By getting the right amount of rest, you can ensure your body is well-rested and energized to take on everyday tasks and activities.
I found this video interesting and discussing a new book I started reading called Why We Sleep. I just started it so I cannot share my thoughts, but this review and thoughts on 9 hours of sleep makes it seem like a solid book. Share your thoughts if you read the book.
Healthline shares some great insight into how to calculate when to go to sleep. I also loved seeing the amount of sleep needed for your age in this chart…
Sleep guidelines by age
- Birth to 3 months: 14 to 17 hours
- 4 to 11 months: 12 to 16 hours
- 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours
- 3 to 5 years: 10 to 13 hours
- 6 to 12 years: 9 to 12 hours
- 13 to 18 years: 8 to 10 hours
- 18 to 64 years: 7 to 9 hours
- 65 years and older: 7 to 8 hours
The Health Benefits of Getting 8-9 Hours of Sleep
Next, let’s look at the health benefits you will enjoy when you give your body those extra 2-3 hours each night.
Regulate Your Weight and Hormones
Eight to nine hours of sleep is necessary for the body to fully and properly rest, restore and rejuvenate. It is essential in regulating your weight as it helps to regulate hormones associated with hunger and satiety.
Sleep is also important in controlling glucose levels and balancing out the hormones that control appetite. When we do not get enough sleep, we are more likely to crave sugar and fatty foods. Not only is this detrimental to our overall health, but it is also linked to many chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Control Your Focus and Motivation
If you have difficulty staying motivated with your life goals, it may very well be a sleep problem! Sleep is important for motivation because it helps rest and restore the body, improve mental clarity and focus, reduce stress levels, boost energy levels and provide a sense of emotional well-being. It is also linked to better decision-making abilities which are key in motivating yourself to stay on track with goals or tasks.
When we get enough sleep regularly, our bodies can better handle everyday life’s stresses, which is beneficial for staying motivated in the long run. Additionally, adequate sleep is also associated with increased creativity which can help to inspire us when working on difficult or challenging tasks. All these factors together make it clear that getting enough sleep is essential for being able to stay motivated on a daily basis.
Lower Your Risk for Serious Health Problems, like Diabetes and Heart Disease
Getting adequate sleep is essential for living a healthy lifestyle and is also beneficial in decreasing the risks of developing serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.
Studies have shown that individuals who get 8-9 hours of sleep per night tend to have lower inflammatory markers associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Getting enough sleep can help boost your immune system, which is important for protecting against illnesses and infections.
It is clear that 8-9 hours of sleep is necessary for the body to function at its best. While 6 hours may seem sufficient in the short term, it is not enough to provide our bodies with the rest and recovery they need.
The Bottom Line
Is 6 hours of sleep enough? Remember, scientific studies show that 6 hours of sleep is not enough! You are most likely not one of the select few functioning well on this level of sleep. Instead, you may have become used to living with the daily consequences of moderate sleep deprivation.
It’s never too late to start changing and living a healthier lifestyle. 8-9 hours of sleep will improve your life no matter what stage of it you are in. Quality sleep is the cornerstone of living well; without it, everything else you do will suffer. So make 8-9 hours of sleep a priority in your life and remember: 6 hours of sleep is not enough!
Be aware though the we want to get the right amount dialed in as both under-sleep and oversleep can cause problems.
Having trouble sleeping?
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