Sleep More

Do You Need to Sleep More?

Most of us believe that in order to be healthy, happy, and function at our peak, we need to sleep eight hours per night.  This leads many people to worry that they need to sleep more, but the truth is that everyone’s sleep needs, like their diet and exercise needs,  can vary quite a lot.

Your age, genetics, your lifestyle and even how much sleep you are used to getting can affect how much sleep you need.

So How Do You Know If You Need to Sleep More?

One of the simplest ways that experts agree you can determine if you need to sleep more is whether or not you need an alarm clock to wake up.  If you do not, then you are getting enough sleep, and if you do, then you may want to consider changing your sleep habits.

If you are struggling with weight gain, high blood pressure, or certain other diseases and disorders that are linked to sleep deprivation, and there is no clear cause, it could also be your body’s way of telling you to sleep more.

Making Sleep a Priority

One of the main reasons that sleep deprivation (never mind insomnia) is a problem in our modern society is that we lead such busy lives, continuously packing more and more into our day, that we do not make sleep a priority.

Instead of making the effort to sleep more when we are feeling tired, we use stimulants like caffeine to keep going, and that in turn can lead to a long-term sleep disorder.

Will Sleeping More Solve All Your Sleep Problems?

Many people think that if they sleep more, they will not have any sleep deprivation problems.  That is not always the case though.

If you are getting around seven and a half hours sleep per night, then your tiredness may be linked to a sleep disorder like sleep apnoea, or it may even be a symptom of another illness or disorder.  Likewise, if you are taking prescription sleep medication, you may not be getting the deep sleep you need to feel refreshed when you wake up.  Whatever the reason, it may be worth discussing this with your doctor.