How to Determine Your Perfect Amount of Sleep for Optimal Health

Sleep is an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle. It is a requirement for our physical and emotional well-being. However, finding the perfect amount of sleep can be challenging. While some individuals only require five hours of sleep, others need eight hours or more. Moreover, determining the amount of sleep a person requires is a highly subjective matter.

The amount of sleep you need varies depending on your age. According to Harvard Medical School, children need more sleep than adults. Newborn babies require anywhere from 10.5 to 18 hours of sleep a day to grow and develop. After three months, babies require slightly less sleep, approximately 10 to 14 hours. By the time children reach school age, they only need an average of 10 hours of sleep.

When you reach 18 years of age, you only need an average of 7.5 to 8.5 hours of sleep per day. Figuring out how much sleep you need can be easy by paying attention to how your body feels.

Here are some signs to look for when determining your perfect amount of sleep:

Forget Your Bedtime, Check Your Wake Up Time

The average person moves through five sleep cycles each night, each lasting for 90 minutes. Instead of focusing on hitting that 7.5 hours of sleep after you go to bed, look at the time you naturally wake up in the morning. Count back 7.5 hours from that figure to determine when you need to go to bed to get the perfect amount of sleep.

Pay Attention to Your Tired Periods

Think about the periods of the day when you feel the most tired. Do you feel tired after waking up? Does your energy dip after lunch or mid-afternoon? Or do you feel ready to go to bed around dinner time? These are cues for sleep that can help you determine if you’re getting enough sleep or if you are sleep-deprived.

Keep a Sleep Journal

Keeping track of your sleep schedule can help boost the level of sleep you get. Use a sleep journal to keep track of your sleep schedule and your consistency in getting enough sleep. Even minor deviations are important because losing even an hour of sleep can affect your energy levels and immune system.

Fixing Your Sleeping Habits

To fix your sleeping habits, you need to make sleep a priority. Make sure to prioritize natural sleep patterns instead of worrying about making up for a lack of sleep. One way to fix your sleeping pattern is to take a sleep vacation. When you have free time for two weeks, go to bed at the same time every night and wake up without an alarm. You will likely notice that your sleeping pattern starts to improve, and you’re sleeping between seven to nine hours-

In conclusion, getting enough sleep is imperative for optimal health. If you are having trouble sleeping, check in with a sleep doctor to ensure that there are no underlying issues. By paying attention to the signs of tiredness, keeping a sleep journal, and prioritizing natural sleep patterns, you can determine your perfect amount of sleep for optimal health.