For many of us, sleep is a commodity—and we can never get enough of it. If you’re like most, you can’t help spending an extra fifteen minutes scrolling through your social media feeds when you know you should turn off the lights and go to bed. Couple that with a morning routine that has you waking up early to get your kids ready for school and commute to work, all before 8 a.m., and most days, you’re left feeling sluggish and foggy before you get to your 11 a.m. staff meeting.
How much sleep do you really need every night? We all hear stories of billionaire entrepreneurs who claim only to need (need) three hours of sleep every night, but is such little sleep realistic or healthy? How can you tell what your personal, optimal amount of sleep is, and more importantly, how can you get it? We’ve got the 411 on all the Zzzs.
The average adult needs between seven and nine hours of sleep at night, but according to the National Institutes of Health, is only getting seven. The difference between how much sleep you get and how much you need is critical because the amount of sleep you can get by on is not the same as the amount of sleep you need for optimal health and wellness.
It is important to note that throughout your life, the amount of sleep you will need will fluctuate. Consider the following recommendations from the National Sleep Foundation:
| Age | Hours Needed | May be appropriate |
| Newborn to 3 months old | 14 – 17 hrs | 11 – 19 hrs |
| 4 to 11 months old | 12 – 15 hrs | 10 – 18 hrs |
| 1 to 2 years old | 11 – 14 hrs | 9 – 16 hrs |
| 3 to 5 years old | 10 – 13 hrs | 8 – 14 hrs |
| 6 to 13 years old | 9 – 11 hrs | 7 – 12 hrs |
| 14 to 17 years old | 8 – 10 hrs | 7 – 11 hrs |
| 18 to 25 years old | 7 – 9 hrs | 6 – 11 hrs |
| 26 to 64 years old | 7 – 9 hrs | 6 – 10 hrs |
| 65+ years old | 7 – 8 hrs | 5 – 9 hrs |
If you believe you may be suffering from the opposite issue—obtaining too much sleep every night—know that you can overdo it. New research shows that sleeping too much may be linked with health hazards that include:
Since the amount of sleep that you need every night is individualized, to determine if you are getting an optimal amount of nightly rest, keep a sleep journal for a few months. Document what time you went to bed and what time you woke up, and assess you how you feel the next day. If you are getting optimal rest, you will feel energized and mentally acute. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you will feel low-energy and mentally fuzzy.
If you already know you need to commit to longer nights’ sleep, click here for tips on healthy sleeping habits you can start today.