subject: Get The Sleep Your Body Needs [print this page] How important is sleep in determining the healthiness of our bodies? We all have heard that a healthy lifestyle requires getting a good eight hours of sleep each night, but is this really true? I decided to put it to the test and actually do a little research. I am one who rarely gets eight hours of sleep a night. Usually, six hours of sleep is pretty good for an average night. After looking at some statistics online, I discovered that my question did not have a simple answer that I was looking for.
When I remember back to when I was a teenager, I used to stay up so late and then sleep in each morning that I was able to. I had no problems sleeping in late on a Saturday morning when I had nothing to do. I also remember taking more naps than I do now. Now that I am an adult, I find myself getting very tired around 10:00 PM and sometimes even before that. I also can't sleep in very well anymore. Once I wake up, I am up for the day. Well, as I researched the topic of how many hours of sleep are recommended, I found out that the number of hours of sleep needed varies from person to person and that sleeping needs for individuals change as we grow as well.
So even though as a teenager I was able to stay up late, now that I am an adult, my body has different needs for sleep and will get tired sooner. Perhaps, my clock has just shifted up a few hours or so. I read that some people can function well at 5-6 hours of sleep a night while others need 9-10 hours of sleep to function well. Overall, most people studied needed about 7-8 hours of sleep a night to be able to function well with no desire for a nap.
If you ever find yourself with problems sleeping, I know that the best thing to do is to find a sleeping pattern that works best for you. Dark rooms are usually a great way to bring on a good night's sleep. There are also adjustable beds available these days which can help couples sleep in the same room even if one prefers a softer mattress and the other prefers a firmer mattress. Take advantage of all the options you have and make sure that you are getting the sleep that your unique body needs.
