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How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

Posted by Cliff on from the nothing-beats-a-6-to-8-hour-shutdown dept.

not_you asks: "Clinton, Giuliani, Bloomberg, and even Martha Stewart are rumored to only get only 4 hours of sleep on a normal night. Being a student without enough time for all the socializing (and studying) I'd like to do and lacking the ability to dream lucidly, I'd like to get the minimal amount of sleep necessary to function effectively. However, I tend to make up for anything less than about 7 hours by dozing off in class! Aside from taking espressos intravenously, how I can function effectively with less sleep?" There are several factors that affect how much sleep one can away with on a given day. Diet, activity level, and other factors all will affect how long and how well one rests. I've always heard that "nothing beats a full night of rest" and to me, that always means close to 8 hours of sleep. Of course, like most things Your Mileage May Vary, still, it would be interesting to know how much sleep some of you can get by on, and what conditions you have to maintain to keep it up. Comments?

3 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. It's possibly all about age.. by FLaMeBoY · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In case you haven't noticed all of the people mentioned in the story are at least 50ish. As people age they generally require less sleep. Sound like a good reason?

  2. Re:Drugs by swright · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually this is a good point - amphetamine sulphate is very good for this!

    I went through a phase a few years ago at college holding two jobs and still trying to geek it in the middle.

    After 16 hours hard work (factory work and kitchen porter in a hotel) and a few hours programming 6 days a week nothing would get me up in the morning like a small dab of speed, not a lot - just a wet finger dipped in some - and I was instantly up and ready for anything.

    I dont do it any more, depending on stuff like that is bad news really...

  3. Quality not quantity by JMax · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Jeez, it's not like you can just turn it on and off... doesn't anyone else find that their productivity/alertness/smartness starts to fade gradually when you reach the end of a long day? What good is staying up for 24 hours if you spend the last half of that making stupid mistakes?

    The point of keeping yourself well-slept is to be at peak form when you're awake.

    Invest in a good mattress and a duvet -- maybe sleep will start looking like a more appealling activity! And you'll be better for it the next day.