This is because our brain is constantly forming new connections while we are awake. The longer we are awake, the more active our minds become. Scientists believe that this is partly why sleep deprivation has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression.
Then why is it that some people feel great after sleeping only 4 to 5 hours, but feel terrible if they sleep 7 to 8 hours? In many cases, they'll just wake up automatically after 5 hours without any alarms. Here's one possible explanation: Normally during sleep, you'll go through 4 to 5 sleep cycles.
So why do people think they are able to function optimally on 6 hours of regular sleep? This is because of a natural human phenomenon known as 'renorming'. Renorming means that we are only able to compare how we feel today to how we felt yesterday or the day before.
Scientists at Stanford University have found that a brain circuit is connected to both sleepiness and internal reward systems. This can lead us to conclude that the mind and body definitely feel more positive about themselves and the day ahead when it gets significant rest.
The answer to this question is an emphatic no. Most people will still be impaired from sleep deficiency even if they sleep for more than twice this amount.
Now, he makes an effort to sleep at least six hours per night, he said in an interview with CNBC's David Faber on Tuesday. “I've tried [to sleep] less, but ... even though I'm awake more hours, I get less done,” Musk said. “And the brain pain level is bad if I get less than six hours [of sleep per night].”
Even though Melatonin stops, your body still has a residue of the sleep hormone for 30-35 mins after you wake up. This makes you sleepy and gives you a happy feeling while going back to sleep after waking up.
Sleep feels good because when we rest, our bodies produce melatonin, which controls our sleep patterns. Our melatonin levels increase at bedtime, making us feel tired. Melatonin, secreted by the pineal gland, makes us feel cozy and relaxed, allowing our bodies to get the time off they need at the end of each day.
In his blog "A Geek With A Hat," Swizec Teller — a programmer — explains why you can actually concentrate better when your brain is exhausted. He says it's because your brain is so tired, it has to focus. In other words, "there isn't enough left-over brainpower to afford losing concentration."
But for a lucky few, maybe 1% to 3% of the population at most, sleep is little more than an afterthought, even an impediment. These “natural short sleepers,” as they are commonly called, need just four to six hours a night to wake up fully rested.
A mutation in the gene DEC2 allows for some people to be natural short sleepers. It's every over-achiever's dream: a gene mutation that allows them to function normally with just four to six hours of sleep a night instead of the normal eight.
Our body clock naturally lends itself to the siesta because of a reduction in alertness in the early afternoon. They cited a 1990 study by psychiatrist Thomas Wehr that found "bi-phasic sleep," which is a science-y phrase for two separate four-hour blocks of sleep, is "a natural process with a biological basis."
Advice from a sleep doctor:
“If you're getting eight hours of sleep and still feeling tired each day, you may need more rest than that. Eight hours is a good starting point, but we all need a different amount of sleep. Try heading to bed a little earlier than usual and seeing how you feel.”
If you or a loved one feel sleepy or fatigued, despite having 7-8 hours of sleep, it could indicate poor sleep quality or be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder. If you have questions or concerns about your sleep health, please speak with your primary care provider.
Lying in the dark with your eyes closed, however calm and comfortable you may be, provides none of the benefits of actual sleep. And let's be honest - most people aren't going to lie in bed, in the middle of the night, in a permanent state of relaxation.
If you wake up early feeling alert, should you just get up? It depends how early it is. If it is 3am, you should do your best to get back to sleep because if you don't, you're likely to feel tired and irritable later.
Causes of Spending Too Much Time in Bed
Spending excessive time in bed may be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as depression. Depression is a mood disorder that has many symptoms, including decreased interest in activities or other people, weight changes, trouble sleeping, and fatigue.
And while the occasional long sleep is generally nothing to worry about, oversleeping several days a week could be a sign that something more serious is going on.
The longest recorded time a person has slept is 11 days, set by Randy Gardner in 1964. Gardner was a high school student at the time, and he stayed awake for 264 hours (11 days and 24 minutes) as part of a science fair experiment.
The bare minimum of sleep needed to live, not just thrive, is 4 hours per 24-hour period. Seven to 9 hours of sleep are needed for health, renewal, learning, and memory. Disruption of the sleep cycle from shift work creates problems for the quality and quantity of sleep.
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.