How Much Sleep Do I Need?
Most adult people seem to need seven to nine hours of sleep a night. This is an average, and it is also subjective. You, for example, probably know how much sleep you need in an average night to feel your best.
The amount of sleep you need decreases with age. A newborn baby might sleep 20 hours a day. By age four, the average is 12 hours a day. By age 10, the average falls to 10 hours a day. Senior citizens can often get by with six or seven hours a day.
Tips to Improve Your Sleep
- Exercise regularly. Exercise helps tire and relax your body.
- Don't consume caffeine after 4:00 p.m. or so. Avoid other stimulants like cigarettes as well.
- Avoid alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol disrupts the brain's normal patterns during sleep.
- Try to stay in a pattern with a regular bedtime and wakeup time, even on weekends.
