How many hours of sleep do you need?

According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult sleeps less than seven hours per night. In today's fast-paced society, six or seven hours of sleep may sound nice. In point of fact, though, it's a recipe for chronic sleep deprivation.

There is a large difference between the amount of sleep you can get by on & the amount you need to function optimally. because you are able to operate on seven hours of sleep doesn't mean you would not feel a lot better & get more done in case you spent an additional hour or in bed.

While sleep requirements vary slightly from individual to individual, most healthy adults need between seven & a half to nine hours of sleep per night to function at their best. Babies & teenagers need even more (see box at right). & despite the notion that our sleep needs decrease with age, older people still need at least seven & a half to eight hours of sleep. Since older adults often have trouble sleeping this long at night, daytime naps can help fill in the gap.

The best way to figure out if you are meeting your sleep needs is to evaluate the way you feel as you go about your day. If you are logging hours, you'll feel energetic & alert all day, from the moment you wake up until your regular bedtime.