How much sleep....

S

sarab

Cathlete
do you get during the week? What do you think a good amount of sleep is in one night?

The reason I ask is because of dh. He gets up around 3:30am to go to work. The problem is that he goes to bed around 9-10. Sometimes he only gets 6 hours of sleep. Is that enough? He is soooooo tired by Friday.

Thanks!
Sara
http://www.picturetrail.com/saraburnham1
 
I think the need for sleep varies between individuals, but 7 1/2 hours is a good minimum. If your husband is exhausted by Friday, not getting enough sleep or rest could be part of the problem.

I try to get 8, which works for me, but add an extra hour of sleep or nap if I am working out hard (like doing a P90X rotation).
 
I've been reading on this lately, the latest I read was in "Framework" by Dr. Nicholas A. DiNubile (Cathe's doc). The general concensus is 6-9 hours per night, less or more is detrimental to one's health. The 6-9 hours is completely relevant to individual needs, for example by DH is great on 6, but don't give me less than 8 or you don't want to spend the day with me.:)
 
I also think it's a very individual thing. I need 7 to 7 1/2 to be rested. I've got it fine tuned now that I almost don't need an alarm clock. I wake up at the same time on weekends as I do during the week.

My DH claims he only needs 6 hrs a night, but he falls asleep in front of the TV almost every night and he doesn't count that one-two hours as sleeping. He also needs "just a 5-10 min cat nap" almost every evening - particular if we're going to doing something active in the evening.

If your DH is exhausted by Friday - he probably needs more sleep per night. Does he sleep more on the weekends to make up for the lack of sleep during the week?
 
My husband gets up at 2 am, leaves at 2:45, get home at 6:30 pm. That is 6 days a week. He goes to bed at 8:30. Sundays he still takes the kids out,runs errands and works on vehicles. I can be woken up and then go right back to sleep.
 
I'm one of those, like Melody, who needs at least 8 hours, but rarely gets it during the week. Therefore, I tend to sleep a lot on the weekends to "make up" for it. I really think I'd be much better off sleeping more during the week, but I'm just not relaxed enough.

I strongly believe that sleep needs are quite individual. I know plenty of people who can't sleep for more than 6 hours no matter what, and feel great on 6 hours of sleep. How I envy them! On 6 hours sleep, I feel like something the cat dragged in. :(
-Nancy
 
My hubby gets up at 3:30 am too to get to work, but he goes to bed at 7:00-7:30pm so I think he gets enough sleep this way, but most people normally do not go to bed so early in my opinion, but maybe your hubby needs to go to bed earlier since he gets up earlier? I need at least 8 hours of sleep, but I have heard others say they don't need as much, I don't see how they manage cuz I am with Nancy, I would not be feeling 100%, that is for sure!

Charlotte~~
 
Personally, I am one of those who need more sleep to function. I work nights, but only 3 "days" a week. I get up at 4pm, work out for an hour then clock in at work by 7pm. I usually am in bed by 8:15-8:30am, I do okay when I am working. When I am off, I can usually sleep 10-12 hrs at a stretch. DH, however, has Gulf War induced insomnia (from 1990) and usually averages about 3-4 hrs of cat-naps per night.
 
I have a condition that is known as "Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome" (DSPS). What this means is I am naturally a "night owl" - I have no trouble sleeping 8-10 hours, as long as I can go to bed anywhere between 100am and 300am. This is my natural body rhythm. This is not the same as insomnia, as I AM able to sleep...it's just that my body clock is very different from the majority of people in the real world!

Unfortunately, I am a career woman who works in the 9-5, Monday through Friday world. This makes living with my condition very difficult. I was like the walking dead, struggling on living with 3-5 hours per night during the week and 8-12 per night on the weekends. NOT good. The older I got, the harder is was to survive with the major sleep deficit.

Finally, a few months ago, I decided to try light therapy along with the prescription drug Lunesta. This has worked wonders for me and I am now in somewhat of a normal mode. As you can see, it is 121am and I am still awake, but if it was a work night, I would take my Lunesta at about 10pm and get up around 600am (unless I am working out, then I have to get up at 500am!) We all have our issues, I suppose, and I thank my lucky stars for every good night of sleep I get. People with "normal" sleep paterns who have no trouble falling/staying asleep have no idea what a luxury that is. Be thankful if you are one of these people.
 
I have to be at work at 4:30 most days, so I get up at 3:15....my body is very used to this early time, so I have no trouble getting up. I am usually in bed by 8 or so...but some nights it is hard to get all my stuff done around the house in time to go into relax mode. I average 7 hours a night and do okay, but I really feel much better when I can sleep 8 or so. Last night, I only got 6 hours and while I feel okay now, I am sure I will be tired and catch a little nap this afternoon.

And yes, I am quite glad I have no trouble falling asleep...my life would be impossible if I could not sleep.

Donna
 
I'm a champion sleeper! I fall asleep easily, dream well, and wake up without an alarm clock, usually 7-7 1/2 hours after I fall asleep. I have found that going beyond 8 hours usually makes me more tired than not.

I'm so not a night owl. I love getting up early when the day is new "with no mistakes in yet," to quote Anne of Green Gables. :D

Sparrow

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
 
I do very well on six and can go 8 now. I was a dreadful insomniac for years although I am a bit of a busy body so no one would notice when I was sleeping 3 or 4 hours. Except for the hallucinations. ;) I have become sleep deprived to the point of big trouble but started taking Seroquel, an "off label" insomnia treatment and love it. Sleep deprivation accounts for many car accidents and is as big an issue as alcohol and driving but I digress. I get a solid 8 now and it's good sleep. I am not groggy and out of sorts as with typical sleep aids. Sleep is inportant but how much one needs varies a great deal. I love the 8 hours but 5 or 6 was fine for me. If your husband feels okay he is most likely one of the people who can function well with less. How does he feel about rising that early? I know some people are miserable getting up so early. I enjoy early morning. I did awaken at 3 every day for month and it was tough but mostly because I didn't sleep well at the time so I was wakeful in the hours before I finally came fully awake at 3:00 and got up. I love 5:00 am. The most beautiful time of the day. Sometimes. :)
Bobbi "Chicks rule!"http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/tiere/animal-smiley-032.gif
Tell me what you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
 
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