8 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
8 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Is sleep overrated ??

by discrat
7 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
i know it is important, vitally important. But the mantra that you must get at least 8 hours of solid sleep a night is a notion perpetuated by the media, imho!!

My mother is a strong 91 yrs old and sleeps probably 3 hours a night. i get usually a solid 5 to 6 hours a night
and my health is optimal with blood work showing in January that iam in the top 5% of the population


Your thoughts on this ??
Avatar of Unregistered
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    I think everyone's sleep requirements may be different. I used to be able to thrive on 5-6 hours a night but I need more these days.

    As far as overrated, I don't believe that at all. Because in the midst of other health issues the last few years, I've discovered something about sleep. If I don't voluntarily get what my body needs, it will, in the end, one way or the other, make me get that sleep. Most times when the force comes, it is in the form of hospitalization. It doesn't matter how important anything else is, if my body doesn't get what it needs, it just takes it.

    Mark
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11849424].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by discrat View Post

    i know it is important, vitally important. But the mantra that you must get at least 8 hours of solid sleep a night is a notion perpetuated by the media, imho!!

    My mother is a strong 91 yrs old and sleeps probably 3 hours a night. i get usually a solid 5 to 6 hours a night
    and my health is optimal with blood work showing in January that iam in the top 5% of the population


    Your thoughts on this ??
    Some need less sleep. But do you have to get out of bed, or do you just wake up refreshed and ready for your day?

    Personally, I need 7 or 8 hours of sleep or I end up falling asleep in the evening.

    But 8 hours is what doctors recommend for optimal health. Our circadian rhythms are set for 8 hours of sleep.
    Signature
    One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

    “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought.” - Matsuo Basho
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11849426].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Originally Posted by discrat View Post

    i know it is important, vitally important. But the mantra that you must get at least 8 hours of solid sleep a night is a notion perpetuated by the media, imho!!
    The idea that we all need 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night is a relatively recent one in human history.

    Before the widespread advent of artificial light, humans used the natural light cycles to set their sleep habits. In much of Europe, for example, people would typically have 2 sets of 4-hour sleep, punctuated by an hour or two of wakefulness in which they might do light chores or take a snack (presumably by candlelight). Terms such as "first sleep" and "second sleep" were in common use.

    Obviously, there are many more distractions nowadays that can interfere with natural sleep patterns, but fretting about some standardized fixed period of sleep is unlikely to help. Your body probably knows best.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16964783


    o
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11849429].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    I saw some research a couple of years ago that said that people that sleep exactly 6 1/2 hours a night had much better hearts. It was saying you don't need 8 hours and you might be better off with less rather than more.

    A few weeks passed by and I saw another research study (forget the details) that said something like if you get less than 7 1/2 hours a night you are more likely to die of cancer.

    As with most things, there are tons of conflicting studies. So, I gave up on studying it but tried to go to bed the same time every night, get up the same time every morning, don't use my phone right before sleeping, try to sleep cooler, etc. I'm not strict about all this, just keep it in mind, but I sleep when I'm tired because it's never fun when my body forces the issue after sleep deprivation.

    Many times I wind up sleeping less at night but a 30 minute nap (exactly 30 minutes with an alarm) does wonders. Where I live, naps, even in businesses, are customary.

    Mark
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11849430].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      All the replies in here are complete nonsense!! Your body adapts, if you have insomnia and can't sleep one night your body makes it up by sleeping twice as deep the next night or better yet the body power naps during the next day to make up for a bad night sleep .

      Key words being Resilient and Adaptable. The human body has both and it doesn't take a Rocket Surgeon to figure this stuff out.
      Basic math!!

      Come on Warrior Forum ,and as my 4th grade teacher would say put on your thinking caps
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11849433].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        All the replies in here are complete nonsense!! Your body adapts, if you have insomnia and can't sleep one night your body makes it up by sleeping twice as deep the next night or better yet the body power naps during the next day to make up for a bad night sleep .

        Key words being Resilient and Adaptable. The human body has both and it doesn't take a Rocket Surgeon to figure this stuff out.
        Basic math!!

        Come on Warrior Forum ,and as my 4th grade teacher would say put on your thinking caps
        You sound a little tired...
        Signature

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11849461].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author discrat
          Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

          You sound a little tired...
          ... carrying where Mark left off, i see
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11849468].message }}
Avatar of Unregistered

Trending Topics