Most adults need about 8 hours of sleep per night. Children and teenagers need more sleep than adults, while older people tend to sleep more lightly and for shorter time spans than when they were younger — despite needing the same amount of sleep as they did as young adults.
Children need more sleep than adults because they are in the process of growing. Physical and mental development is necessary for children to fully develop and mature in a healthy way. Healthy sleep patterns help children maintain a healthy weight, reduces the risk of obesity, and other harmful physical health issues.
Some people need more sleep than others, and a new study has found that our personal sleep requirements may be down to our genes. So, you're not lazy after all — it's your DNA's fault.
However, the average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. So, the idea that smart people sleep less may be a myth for most mortals and should not be used as an excuse for skimping on sleep.
Productivity begins even before the start of the workday. High achievers don't sleep in. Nearly 50 percent of the self-made millionaires begin their days at least 3 hours before the start of their workday.
Data from The American Academy of Pediatrics reveals that that up to 50% of children suffer from a sleep disorder at some point. Over half of children between 6 and 17 years old get less than the recommended amount of sleep.
The Causes of Excessive Sleep
Side effects of medication. Emotional challenges like depression or anxiety. Lack of emotional stimulation leading to boredom. Underlying health problems.
Sleep patterns tend to change as you age. Most people find that aging causes them to have a harder time falling asleep. They wake up more often during the night and earlier in the morning. Total sleep time stays the same or is slightly decreased (6.5 to 7 hours per night).
There are a number of hypotheses on why the country is so sleep deprived, including the long working hours and long commutes. Traditional Japanese working culture also places a strong emphasis on compulsory social events where alcohol is typically consumed, which could also contribute to the sleeplessness.
The longest time a human being has gone without sleep is 11 days and 25 minutes. The world record was set by … American 17-year-old Randy Gardner in 1963.
Although New York City may be the most prominently recognized city termed "The City That Never Sleeps", and the city's subway system never closes, the term has been applied to other cities. Below is a list, in alphabetical order, of cities that have also been called "the city that never sleeps": Barcelona. Belgrade.
Infants and Toddlers - At least 11-12 hours per day with day time naps continuing until two to three years. Teenagers - Teenagers' sleep times start to get later (and wake times as well) but they need about 8 to 10 hours sleep each day.
According to researchers at the Loughborough University U.K.-based Sleep Research Center, 1 women do use their brains more than men – so much more so that, yes, they do require more sleep.
“Women are also multi-taskers, and they do a lot at once. Because they use more of their actual brain, they may need a little bit more sleep than men. It is still debatable, but some experts say that women need twenty more minutes on average than men usually need.”
According to their internal body clock, most older adults need to go to sleep around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. and wake up at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. Many people fight their natural inclination to sleep and choose to go to bed several hours later instead.
Sleep and Aging
Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as all adults—7 to 9 hours each night. But, older people tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than they did when they were younger. There are many reasons why older people may not get enough sleep at night.
Even with more and more dads taking up more household duties, the scale still tilts heavier in the direction of the mom. And at the end of the day, moms sleep at least 20% less than dads and are more prone to feeling tired during the day than women without children. So how does parenting affect the sleep of mothers?
This may not come as a surprise to most women, but new research shows members of Generation X are more sleep-deprived than any other generation... ever. It's true even when compared to men born in the same years – between 1965 and 1980.
Research has shown that adolescence brings with it a shift in biological sleep patterns. Thanks to changing circadian rhythms at this stage, teens naturally get tired later on at night. It's also harder for their bodies to wake up in the mornings.
Al Herpin, who lived in Trenton, New Jersey, claimed to have never slept. The supposed cause is unknown. While claims such as his have occasionally appeared in newspapers, there is a recognized medical consensus that all humans require sleep, and that they do so even if they are not aware of it.
Psychology Today reported that intelligent people are likely to be nocturnal beings, with those with a higher IQ going bed later on both weeknights and weekends.
Albert Einstein, a household name that has inspired many a crazy hair day and who is most famous for his theory of General Relativity, was a huge fan of catching some Z's. He would sleep an average of 10 hours a night as well as taking daytime naps.
The thing the job is not known for, however, is a good night's sleep. With various board meetings and no shortage of pressure, rest can be hard to find. CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk get under six hours of sleep each night.