Many people live like shift workers to some degree. The majority of people either go to bed after midnight or wake up early without getting enough sleep.
Shift work is a probable carcinogen, according to the WHO. Moreover, there is a list of health problems associated with shift work. The reason is that shift work interferes with your circadian rhythm. Humans are diurnal - we are designed to be awake in the day and asleep at night. While we can be nocturnal, we weren&amp;#39;t built for it long term.

We don't sleep when we should

<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/" dir="ltr">Home</a>
/ <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works" dir="ltr">How Sleep Works</a>
/ How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?
</div><div><time datetime="2021-03-10T00:00:00.000+00:00">Updated March 10, 2021</time></div><figure><img src="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dr.-Abhinav-Singh-SF-96x96.jpg" alt="author" width="60" height="60" srcset="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dr.-Abhinav-Singh-SF-96x96.jpg"></figure>Scientific research makes clear that sleep is essential at any age. Sleep powers the mind, restores the body, and fortifies virtually every system in the body. But how much sleep do we really need in order to get these benefits?<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29073412/" data-reference-id="1" rel="noopener nofollow noindex" dir="ltr">National Sleep Foundation guidelines</a> advise that healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Babies, young children, and teens need even more sleep to enable their growth and development. People over 65 should also get 7 to 8 hours per night.Knowing the general recommendations for how much sleep you need is a first step. Then It’s important to reflect on your individual needs based on factors like your activity level and overall health. And finally, of course, it’s necessary to apply <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/healthy-sleep-tips" dir="ltr">healthy sleep tips</a> so that you can actually get the full night’s sleep that’s recommended.<h2>How Much Sleep Is Recommended for Each Age Group?</h2>The recommended sleep times are broken down into nine age groups.<table class="multi-col valign-top" dir="ltr">
<tbody dir="ltr">
<tr dir="ltr">
<th dir="ltr"></th>
<th dir="ltr">Age Range</th>
<th dir="ltr">Recommended Hours of Sleep</th>
</tr>
<tr dir="ltr">
<td dir="ltr">Newborn</td>
<td dir="ltr">0-3 months old</td>
<td dir="ltr">14-17 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr dir="ltr">
<td dir="ltr">Infant</td>
<td dir="ltr">4-11 months old</td>
<td dir="ltr">12-15 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr dir="ltr">
<td dir="ltr">Toddler</td>
<td dir="ltr">1-2 years old</td>
<td dir="ltr">11-14 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr dir="ltr">
<td dir="ltr">Preschool</td>
<td dir="ltr">3-5 years old</td>
<td dir="ltr">10-13 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr dir="ltr">
<td dir="ltr">School-age</td>
<td dir="ltr">6-13 years old</td>
<td dir="ltr">9-11 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr dir="ltr">
<td dir="ltr">Teen</td>
<td dir="ltr">14-17 years old</td>
<td dir="ltr">8-10 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr dir="ltr">
<td dir="ltr">Young Adult</td>
<td dir="ltr">18-25 years old</td>
<td dir="ltr">7-9 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr dir="ltr">
<td dir="ltr">Adult</td>
<td dir="ltr">26-64 years old</td>
<td dir="ltr">7-9 hours</td>
</tr>
<tr dir="ltr">
<td dir="ltr">Older Adult</td>
<td dir="ltr">65 or more years old</td>
<td dir="ltr">7-8 hours</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>In each group, the guidelines present a recommended range of nightly sleep duration for healthy individuals. In some cases, sleeping an hour more or less than the general range may be acceptable based on a person’s circumstances.<h2>How Much Sleep Do You Need?</h2>These guidelines serve as a rule-of-thumb for how much sleep children and adults need while acknowledging that the ideal amount of sleep can vary from person to person.For that reason, the guidelines list a range of hours for each age group. The recommendations also acknowledge that, for some people with unique circumstances, there’s some wiggle room on either side of the range for “acceptable,” though still not optimal, amount of sleep.<div>Get the latest information in sleep from our newsletter</div><div dir="ltr">Your email address will only be used to receive SleepFoundation.org newsletter. 
Further information can be found in our <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/privacy-policy" dir="ltr">privacy policy</a>.</div>Deciding how much sleep you need means considering your overall health, daily activities, and typical sleep patterns. Some questions that you help assess your individual sleep needs include:<UL><LI>Are you productive, healthy, and happy on seven hours of sleep? Or have you noticed that you require more hours of sleep to get into high gear?</LI><LI>Do you have coexisting health issues? Are you at higher risk for any disease?</LI><LI>Do you have a high level of daily energy expenditure? Do you frequently play sports or work in a labor-intensive job?</LI><LI>Do your daily activities require alertness to do them safely? Do you drive every day and/or operate heavy machinery? Do you ever feel sleepy when doing these activities?</LI><LI>Are you experiencing or do you have a history of <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders" dir="ltr">sleeping problems</a>?</LI><LI>Do you depend on <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/caffeine-and-sleep" dir="ltr">caffeine</a> to get you through the day?</LI><LI>When you have an open schedule, do you sleep more than you do on a typical workday?</LI></UL>Start with the above-mentioned recommendations and then use your answers to these questions to home in on your optimal amount of sleep.<h2>How Were the Recommendations Created?</h2>To create these recommended sleep times, an expert panel of 18 people was convened from different fields of science and medicine. The members of the panel reviewed hundreds of validated research studies about sleep duration and key health outcomes like cardiovascular disease, depression, pain, and diabetes.After studying the evidence, the panel used several rounds of voting and discussion to narrow down the ranges for the amount of sleep needed at different ages. In total, this process took over nine months to complete.Other organizations, such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and Sleep Research Society (SRS) have also published recommendations for the amount of sleep needed for <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4442216/" data-reference-id="2" rel="noopener nofollow noindex" dir="ltr">adults</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4877308/" data-reference-id="3" rel="noopener nofollow noindex" dir="ltr">children</a>. In general, these organizations closely coincide in their findings <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267703/" data-reference-id="4" rel="noopener nofollow noindex" dir="ltr">as do similar organizations in Canada.</a><h2>Improve Your Sleep Today: Make Sleep a Priority</h2>Once you have a nightly goal based on the hours of sleep that you need, it’s time to start planning for how to make that a reality.Start by making sleep a priority in your schedule. This means budgeting for the hours you need so that work or social activities don’t trade off with sleep. While cutting sleep short may be tempting in the moment, it doesn’t pay off because sleep is essential to being at your best both mentally and physically.Improving your <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene" dir="ltr">sleep hygiene</a>, which includes your bedroom setting and sleep-related habits, is an established way to get better rest. Examples of sleep hygiene improvements include:<UL><LI>Sticking to the same sleep schedule every day, even on weekends.</LI><LI><a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-mattress" dir="ltr">Choosing a mattress</a> that is supportive and comfortable and outfitting it with quality <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-pillows" dir="ltr">pillows</a> and <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-sheets" dir="ltr">bedding</a>.</LI><LI>Minimizing potential disruptions from light and sound while optimizing your <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/bedroom-environment/best-temperature-for-sleep" dir="ltr">bedroom temperature</a> and aroma.</LI><LI>Disconnecting from <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-electronics-affect-sleep" dir="ltr">electronic devices</a> like mobile phones and laptops for a half-hour or more before bed.</LI><LI>Carefully monitoring your intake of caffeine and alcohol and trying to avoid consuming them in the hours before bed.</LI></UL>If you’re a parent, many of the same tips apply to help <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep" dir="ltr">children</a> and <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/teens-and-sleep" dir="ltr">teens</a> get the recommended amount of sleep that they need for kids their age. Pointers for parents can help with teens, specifically, who face a number of unique sleep challenges.Getting more sleep is a key part of the equation, but remember that it’s not just about sleep quantity. <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthysleep.html" data-reference-id="5" rel="noopener nofollow noindex" dir="ltr">Quality sleep matters</a>, too, and it’s possible to get the hours that you need but notfeel refreshed because your sleep is fragmented or non-restorative. Fortunately, improving sleep hygiene often boosts both the quantity and quality of your sleep.If you or a family member are experiencing symptoms such as significant sleepiness during the day, chronic snoring, leg cramps or tingling, difficulty breathing during sleep, chronic <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/insomnia" dir="ltr">insomnia</a>, or another symptom that is preventing you from sleeping well, you should consult your primary care doctor or find a sleep professional to determine the underlying cause.You can try using our <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-diary" dir="ltr">Sleep Diary or Sleep Log</a> to track your sleep habits. This can provide insight about your sleep patterns and needs. It can also be helpful to bring with you to the doctor if you have ongoing sleep problems.<img alt="" width="100%" height="auto" src="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Sleep_Foundation_Recommended-Sleep_Infographic.jpg"><UL><LI>Share: </LI><LI><img src="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/plugins/sleep-social-hub/assets/Facebook.svg" alt="Facebook" width="34" height="34"></LI><LI><img src="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/plugins/sleep-social-hub/assets/Twitter.svg" alt="Twitter" width="34" height="34"></LI><LI><img src="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/plugins/sleep-social-hub/assets/Email.svg" alt="Email" width="34" height="34"></LI><LI><img src="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/plugins/sleep-social-hub/assets/Print.svg" alt="Print" width="34" height="34"></LI></UL><UL><LI><h2>References</h2><div>+5 Sources</div><OL><LI>1. Hirshkowitz, M., Whiton, K., Albert, S. M., Alessi, C., Bruni, O., DonCarlos, L., Hazen, N., Herman, J., Katz, E. S., Kheirandish-Gozal, L., Neubauer, D. N., O'Donnell, A. E., Ohayon, M., Peever, J., Rawding, R., Sachdeva, R. C., Setters, B., Vitiello, M. V., Ware, J. C., &amp; Adams Hillard, P. J. (2015). National Sleep Foundation's sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep health, 1(1), 40–43. </LI><LI>2. Consensus Conference Panel, Watson, N. F., Badr, M. S., Belenky, G., Bliwise, D. L., Buxton, O. M., Buysse, D., Dinges, D. F., Gangwisch, J., Grandner, M. A., Kushida, C., Malhotra, R. K., Martin, J. L., Patel, S. R., Quan, S. F., Tasali, E., Non-Participating Observers, Twery, M., Croft, J. B., Maher, E., … Heald, J. L. (2015). Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 11(6), 591–592. </LI><LI>3. Paruthi, S., Brooks, L. J., D'Ambrosio, C., Hall, W. A., Kotagal, S., Lloyd, R. M., Malow, B. A., Maski, K., Nichols, C., Quan, S. F., Rosen, C. L., Troester, M. M., &amp; Wise, M. S. (2016). Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 12(6), 785–786. </LI></OL></LI></UL>

Sleep is essential, but how much sleep do we really need? Learn about how many hours of sleep kids and adults need and find useful tips for how to get it.

health

Health

Scientific research makes clear that sleep is essential at any age. Sleep powers the mind, restores the body, and fortifies virtually every system in the body. But how much sleep do we really need in order to get these benefits?

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29073412/">National Sleep Foundation guidelines </a>advise that healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Babies, young children, and teens need even more sleep to enable their growth and development. People over 65 should also get 7 to 8 hours per night.

Knowing the general recommendations for how much sleep you need is a first step. Then It’s important to reflect on your individual needs based on factors like your activity level and overall health. And finally, of course, it’s necessary to apply <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/healthy-sleep-tips">healthy sleep tips </a>so that you can actually get the full night’s sleep that’s recommended.

How Much Sleep Is Recommended for Each Age Group?

The recommended sleep times are broken down into nine age groups.

In each group, the guidelines present a recommended range of nightly sleep duration for healthy individuals. In some cases, sleeping an hour more or less than the general range may be acceptable based on a person’s circumstances.

These guidelines serve as a rule-of-thumb for how much sleep children and adults need while acknowledging that the ideal amount of sleep can vary from person to person.

For that reason, the guidelines list a range of hours for each age group. The recommendations also acknowledge that, for some people with unique circumstances, there’s some wiggle room on either side of the range for “acceptable,” though still not optimal, amount of sleep.

Deciding how much sleep you need means considering your overall health, daily activities, and typical sleep patterns. Some questions that you help assess your individual sleep needs include:

<ul><li>Are you productive, healthy, and happy on seven hours of sleep? Or have you noticed that you require more hours of sleep to get into high gear? </li><li>Do you have coexisting health issues? Are you at higher risk for any disease? </li><li>Do you have a high level of daily energy expenditure? Do you frequently play sports or work in a labor-intensive job? </li><li>Do your daily activities require alertness to do them safely? Do you drive every day and/or operate heavy machinery? Do you ever feel sleepy when doing these activities? </li><li>Are you experiencing or do you have a history of <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders">sleeping problems </a>? </li><li>Do you depend on <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/caffeine-and-sleep">caffeine </a>to get you through the day? </li><li>When you have an open schedule, do you sleep more than you do on a typical workday? </li> </ul>

Start with the above-mentioned recommendations and then use your answers to these questions to home in on your optimal amount of sleep.

To create these recommended sleep times, an expert panel of 18 people was convened from different fields of science and medicine. The members of the panel reviewed hundreds of validated research studies about sleep duration and key health outcomes like cardiovascular disease, depression, pain, and diabetes.

After studying the evidence, the panel used several rounds of voting and discussion to narrow down the ranges for the amount of sleep needed at different ages. In total, this process took over nine months to complete.

Other organizations, such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and Sleep Research Society (SRS) have also published recommendations for the amount of sleep needed for <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4442216/">adults </a>and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4877308/">children </a>. In general, these organizations closely coincide in their findings <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267703/">as do similar organizations in Canada. </a>

Improve Your Sleep Today: Make Sleep a Priority

Once you have a nightly goal based on the hours of sleep that you need, it’s time to start planning for how to make that a reality.

Start by making sleep a priority in your schedule. This means budgeting for the hours you need so that work or social activities don’t trade off with sleep. While cutting sleep short may be tempting in the moment, it doesn’t pay off because sleep is essential to being at your best both mentally and physically.

Improving your <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene">sleep hygiene </a>, which includes your bedroom setting and sleep-related habits, is an established way to get better rest. Examples of sleep hygiene improvements include:

<ul><li>Sticking to the same sleep schedule every day, even on weekends. </li><li><a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-mattress">Choosing a mattress </a>that is supportive and comfortable and outfitting it with quality <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-pillows">pillows </a>and <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-sheets">bedding </a>. </li><li>Minimizing potential disruptions from light and sound while optimizing your <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/bedroom-environment/best-temperature-for-sleep">bedroom temperature </a>and aroma. </li><li>Disconnecting from <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-electronics-affect-sleep">electronic devices </a>like mobile phones and laptops for a half-hour or more before bed. </li><li>Carefully monitoring your intake of caffeine and alcohol and trying to avoid consuming them in the hours before bed. </li> </ul>

If you’re a parent, many of the same tips apply to help <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep">children </a>and <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/teens-and-sleep">teens </a>get the recommended amount of sleep that they need for kids their age. Pointers for parents can help with teens, specifically, who face a number of unique sleep challenges.

Getting more sleep is a key part of the equation, but remember that it’s not just about sleep quantity. <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthysleep.html">Quality sleep matters </a>, too, and it’s possible to get the hours that you need but not

feel refreshed because your sleep is fragmented or non-restorative. Fortunately, improving sleep hygiene often boosts both the quantity and quality of your sleep.

If you or a family member are experiencing symptoms such as significant sleepiness during the day, chronic snoring, leg cramps or tingling, difficulty breathing during sleep, chronic <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/insomnia">insomnia </a>, or another symptom that is preventing you from sleeping well, you should consult your primary care doctor or find a sleep professional to determine the underlying cause.

You can try using our <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-diary">Sleep Diary or Sleep Log </a>to track your sleep habits. This can provide insight about your sleep patterns and needs. It can also be helpful to bring with you to the doctor if you have ongoing sleep problems.

<ul><li>Share: </li><li><img src="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/plugins/sleep-social-hub/assets/Facebook.svg"> </li><li><img src="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/plugins/sleep-social-hub/assets/Twitter.svg"> </li><li><img src="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/plugins/sleep-social-hub/assets/Email.svg"> </li><li><img src="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/wp-content/plugins/sleep-social-hub/assets/Print.svg"> </li> </ul>

<ul><li><h2>References </h2><div>+5 Sources </div><ol><li>1. Hirshkowitz, M., Whiton, K., Albert, S. M., Alessi, C., Bruni, O., DonCarlos, L., Hazen, N., Herman, J., Katz, E. S., Kheirandish-Gozal, L., Neubauer, D. N., O'Donnell, A. E., Ohayon, M., Peever, J., Rawding, R., Sachdeva, R. C., Setters, B., Vitiello, M. V., Ware, J. C., & Adams Hillard, P. J. (2015). National Sleep Foundation's sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep health, 1(1), 40–43. </li><li>2. Consensus Conference Panel, Watson, N. F., Badr, M. S., Belenky, G., Bliwise, D. L., Buxton, O. M., Buysse, D., Dinges, D. F., Gangwisch, J., Grandner, M. A., Kushida, C., Malhotra, R. K., Martin, J. L., Patel, S. R., Quan, S. F., Tasali, E., Non-Participating Observers, Twery, M., Croft, J. B., Maher, E., … Heald, J. L. (2015). Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 11(6), 591–592. </li><li>3. Paruthi, S., Brooks, L. J., D'Ambrosio, C., Hall, W. A., Kotagal, S., Lloyd, R. M., Malow, B. A., Maski, K., Nichols, C., Quan, S. F., Rosen, C. L., Troester, M. M., & Wise, M. S. (2016). Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 12(6), 785–786. </li> </ol> </li> </ul>

How Much Sleep Do We Really Need? | Sleep Foundation

We don't sleep when we should

CURATED BY

Related collections

More like this