This Is Exactly How Much Sleep You Should Be Getting, Based On Your Age

Dec 20, 2018

Did you know that one in three adults are slacking when it comes to getting enough slumber? This statistic is according to the CDC, and there are many of us who are likely suffering from the ramifications of our insomniac behaviors. Not getting enough sleep can result in depression, hormonal imbalances, visual impairment, and several other troublesome symptoms.

Oversleeping, however, has its own set of woes such as lower back pain, heart disease, and diabetes. But how do we know the correct amount of sleep that our individual bodies need? We have historically been told that 7-8 hours is suitable for almost any adult, but science is now proving that this recommendation may not necessarily be true.

The years between birth and eighteen contain the most varying time recommendations when it comes to the amount of sleep necessary for optimal function, according to The National Sleep Foundation. From 0-3 months, little ones require a whopping 14-17 hours of sleep!

To put this into perspective, this is almost double what the average 18-25-year-old needs. Once they reach 4-11 months, these sleeping hours are reduced to 12-15. This starts to settle down even more once they reach 3-5 years when they need only about 10-13 hours of sleep each night.

As a child grows older, the amount of sleep that they need naturally reduces since they do not require as much sleep to recover from their daily activities. From ages 6-13, children now require just 9-11 hours of sleep, which is not too far from what the average adult needs. As they grow older and reach their teen years at 14-17, they now require approximately 8-10 hours each night. It is easy to identify the pattern of sleep requirements decreasing as the child progressively ages.

Once we reach 18 years of age, the amount of sleep that our bodies need decreases even more. Those who are 18-25 years old only need around 7-9 hours of shut-eye each night. Scientists have determined that after this sleep stage has been reached, it remains pretty solidified over time.

This amount of sleep is recommended throughout adulthood until 65 years of age is reached, and then it only decreases by one hour.

Reading about the suggestions from scientists is a much easier task than actually getting the proper amount of rest each night once bedtime rolls around. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can naturally help your body settle down during the evening hours.

Be sure that you help your body distinguish night from day by avoiding naps when it is light out and by taking steps to relax once the sun begins to set. Having a routine where you fall asleep and wake up at the same time has also proven to be successful when maintaining a successful sleep routine. Avoiding drinks with high caffeine levels should aid in a full night's rest as well.

These changes may take some time to ultimately adjust to, but the result will be significantly beneficial to both your body and mind over time. Now that we have science backing sleep recommendations that are tailored to our specific needs, we can be sure that the amount of sleep we are getting is the right amount for our bodies to thrive.

What do you think? Are you getting enough sleep on a daily basis? Let us know in the comments! With so many people previously fooled by the seven to eight hours a night myth, your friends are sure to benefit from these findings as well, so don't forget to pass this along to them!