Sleep is the balm that soothes and restores after a long day. Sleep is largely driven by the body’s internal clock, which takes cues from external elements such as sunlight and temperature. The body’s natural sleep-and-wake cycle is reasonably attuned to a 24-hour period.
How much sleep do I need?
Sleep needs vary by age, and variation exists even within age groups. But in general, The National Sleep Foundation provides these daily sleep guidelines:
To learn more about how sleep needs change over time, see Children and Sleep.
How long should it take me to fall asleep?
In general, it should take about 10 to 20 minutes for a person to drift off. But if one perceives that it is taking too long—whether it takes 20 minutes or an hour—that can spur anxiety about sleep that negatively affects sleep quality. Falling asleep as soon as one's head hits the pillow is not proof that one is a good sleeper; it's more likely an indication that an individual is sleep-deprived.
For more on recognizing signs of disordered sleep, see Overcoming Insomnia or Sleep Disorders.
Do some people need more sleep than others?
Absolutely. Some people may feel great after 7 hours of sleep, while others don’t feel rested unless they get a solid 9. There do appear to be rare individuals who can function on significantly less sleep, which evidence suggests is due to genetics ; conversely, there appear to be some people who require significantly longer amounts of sleep—up to 10 hours a night—to function optimally.
Am I a “short sleeper”?
“Short sleepers”—or those who are genetically programmed to require less sleep than average—do exist, and are thought to make up approximately 5 percent of the population . However, many people who think they are functioning well on little sleep may actually be chronically sleep deprived , as evidence suggests that it becomes difficult for people to objectively judge their mental state after several nights of poor sleep.
Explore More About Why Is Sleep Important?
For a comprehensive understanding of why is sleep important?, read our complete guide: