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Over the years I've found that I definitely need 8 hours sleep but didn't often get it. I would normally manage about 6-7 hours and would soon build up a defici
by ironash 12y ago
Over the years I've found that I definitely need 8 hours sleep but didn't often get it. I would normally manage about 6-7 hours and would soon build up a deficit. This had a definite impact on my well being and performance at work. Recently I've started using a timer instead of an alarm clock to ensure that I always get eight hours. If I go to bed later I get up later. On the rare occasions that I go to bed substantially later (e.g. attending a concert) and so can't allow eight hours, I still cope well because I'm already well rested. Ditto for when my young son wakes in the night - previously this would have killed me.
I know this isn't viable for everyone but my employer allows flexible working hours.
- boyaka 12y agoThe whole deficit thing is interesting. I've felt that I do that too, but I've also heard people say that sleep doesn't work that way. It definitely could just be that any time I'm sleeping more than 8 hours I'm just being lazy.
- ironash 12y agoI don't think it's a zero sum game and I'm pretty sure other factors are involved e.g. stress, alcohol intake, volume of exercise, etc). I do know that my perceived quality of life is improved when I'm getting plenty of sleep, and for me that requires about eight hours. As I wrote in my initial comment the occasional disturbed night is not a big problem when I'm well rested. Under those circumstances I never feel the need to get extra sleep to compensate for the lost hours.
- magal 12y agoI think it's a deficit in the sense it starts to sum up for a few weeks and you get progressively tired until it starts to harm you, your brain, whatever. You can revert your tiredness sleeping well for a few days but the damage caused by prolonged periods with insufficient sleep it's done and maybe can't be undone.