Sleep. We all love it. We all need it. In the past two years, sleep has been a huge part of my life. When I was pregnant with my twins (who are now 2.5), I tried to get as much sleep and rest as possible even though I knew there wasn’t a way to bank sleep. When they were born, I didn’t sleep at all. I was nursing both of them and they were on different sleep schedules. I was sleeping maybe 2 hours a night and during the day, I was a person that wasn’t that great. I snapped at my husband a lot and wasn’t happy. I was so exhausted that I broke out in hives and went to see my doctor. Her prescription? I needed SLEEP! Sleep is such an important part of your health and after that, my husband and I got serious about a sleep schedule for all of us. Now, we are all part of a happier household.
I take my sleep much more serious these days. At the end of the day, if I’m tired but I still have a lot of dishes to do or laundry to catch up on, I will just leave it. (GASP!) A happier mama is much more important to me than a tired and grumpy mama. I’m going to bet that you’re not getting as much sleep as you should. Even after the girls were born and I was getting more sleep, I was happy with 5 or 6 hour straight. But, you really need seven or more hours of sleep per night to avoid the health risks of chronic inadequate sleep. This is a new recommendation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society and I, for one am going to listen to them!
“Sleep is critical to health, along with a healthy diet and regular exercise,” said Dr. Nathaniel F. Watson, incoming AASM president and Consensus Panel moderator. “Our Consensus Panel found that sleeping six or fewer hours per night is inadequate to sustain health and safety in adults, and agreed that seven or more hours of sleep per night is recommended for all healthy adults.”
“More than a third of the population is not getting enough sleep, so the focus needs to be on achieving the recommended minimum hours of nightly sleep,” said Watson. “Long sleep duration is more likely to reflect chronic illness than to cause it, and few experimental laboratory studies have examined the health effects of long sleep duration.”
Check out these healthy sleep tips to get back on track:
Don’t:
- Don’t drink coffee after lunch – it can lead to tossing and turning all night.
- Don’t stay up late working on the computer – it prevents us from being able to “wind down” and fall asleep.
- Don’t go to bed unless you are sleepy.
- Don’t read, write, eat or watch TV in bed.
Do:
- Do try and keep a regular sleep schedule, as you would for your child.
- Do make your bedroom quiet, dark and a little bit cool.
- An easy way to remember this: it should remind you of a cave.
- Do begin rituals that help you relax each night before bed.
- Read a book (but not in bed).
- Draw a warm bath.
- Enjoy a light snack.
The benefits of healthy sleep require not only adequate sleep duration, but also appropriate timing, daily regularity, good sleep quality, and the absence of sleep disorders. Individuals who have or suspect they have sleep disorders should consult with a doctor. To find a local sleep specialist at an accredited sleep center, visit www.sleepeducation.org.
Want to learn even more about sleep? On Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m. CT, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine will host a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) with AASM President Dr. Nathaniel Watson. Make sure you sign up for a Reddit account to participate: https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/
Win It!
Thanks to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, one lucky reader will win a $50 Gift Card!
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Disclosure: I received compensation for this post but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Giveaway is US only, 18+.
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I get 7 hours of sleep every night
I get four to five hours of sleep each night.
This made me think of my sister. She literally cannot drink coffee during the week because caffeine effects her so badly. Even if she has a cup when she first wakes up, she can’t sleep that night.
I may get 5 if lucky.
I usually get 5-6 hours of sleep on the days I work and 8 on the days I don’t.
I get 7-8 hours of sleep a night.
I have a newborn so I’m only getting 5 hours a night.
I try to get eight hours of sleep a night.
I typically get around 7 hours of sleep each night.
It varies but on average 6.5.
7 hours sounds like Heaven to me. I’m lucky if I get 6!
I usually sleep 2 or 3 hours at a time. I have fibromyalgia so its pretty hard to get comfortable and even harder to stay asleep. I usually have to nap at least once during the day.
I have a very hard time sleeping at night, I have a bit of insomnia and no sleeping pills work (trust me I have tried). I usually get about 6 hours of sleep, so I am close. LOL
I get may be 5 hours a night if I am lucky.
I get around 8 hours of sleep.
I try to get around 8 hours of sleep each night. I am guilty of this “don’t”: Don’t read, write, eat or watch TV in bed.
I agree with the value of sleep. I don’t always sleep as well as I would like now that I am a mom, but I try my best. I’m a much better person with a solid night of sleep!
I’m so bad when it comes to sleep. I have so much on my plate, I really need to change that and start getting 7 hours. I didn’t realize how much I needed it truly.
My twins are almost 3 so I feel your pain! My vice is not getting off my laptop before I go to bed!
Thanks for the great tips. It’s not always easy to get the proper amount of sleep.
I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome so require quite a bit of sleep. I usually get from 10-12 hours per night. Although, my son is grown and I live alone, so it’s easier to do than when he was growing-up. Thank-you!
I stay up late so I probably get between 6-7 hours of sleep.
I try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Cutting back on caffeine helps a lot.
5-6
I usually get 6 hours of sleep
I have to get at least six hours of sleep or i just do not feel good all day. I have a bed time routine i do to help me unwind. It starts with a nice relaxing bath.
I will have to try not reading in bed. I have removed all light sources and that has helped me sleep better.
I try to get at least 8 hours of sleep, but usually 6 is all I can get.
I’m guilty of staying up and working on the computer! I think it totally throws off my schedule.
I feel best when I sleep about seven hours. Usually though, my sleep schedule stays messed up.
I miss the days when I could get 7 hours of sleep! I haven’t gotten that much in a long time!
I know I definitely do not get as much sleep as I need. I’m bad about reading and watching TV in bed.
I work at night so I sleep during the day. I usually get 6 hours of sleep. Thanks.
partymix25(at)Hotmail(dot)com
I definitely need to start getting more sleep! Thanks for the opportunity to win! Great giveaway!
I aim for about 7-8 a night but usually get about 6-7 hours.
9 hours is even better!! I really do need at least 7 to function at top level!
I get around 5-6 hours a night and it really isn’t enough.
I make sure to get 7 hours of shuteye. I noticed that when I have enough sleep, I don’t feel hungry very often.
I know I do not get enough sleep. I get about 5-6 hours of broken sleep.
I try to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night or I’m exhausted the next day.
I get between 6 and 7 hours of sleep.
Most of the time I get I get about 5/6 hours of sleep. However, there are times when my sleep pattern are completely off and I am up all night. I hate when that happens.
6.5 to 7 hours of sleep during the work week.
I get about 7 hours!
I average seven to eight hours of sleep a night.
thank you
I almost always get 8 hours of sleep a night. Without at least 7, I can hardly function. I need my sleep!
I only get about 5 hours of sleep a night if I am lucky.
I get about six.
I get about five hours of sleep a night.
I normally get between eight and nine hours of sleep a night
I consider myself super lucky if I get more than 4!
ive been really trying to get 7 to 8 hours, but sometimes i get more lie 5
i get around 6-7 hours of sleep at night
I get about 6 hours of sleep a night.
Usually about 4-6 hrs at night. I do however, take a 2hr nap during the day. So I don’t know if it counts as my total amount 6-8hrs since it’s broken up sleep, lol.
I only get 5 hours a night and I know I need more!
i get about 8
I probably average 6-7 hours of sleep.
I’m getting about 6 hours asleep at night
I usually average around 8 hours of sleep a night.
I usually get 5-8 hours!
I get around 7 hours of sleep each night just about.
I get maybe 5 hours a night of sleep. I dont know why I think its the cat waking me up.
I usually get 6 or 7 hours of sleep but awake several times. We finally bought a new mattress and it seems to be helping.
I get about six hours of sleep each night.
Thank you for the chance to win !
I usually get six hours of sleep.
I usually get about 5.5-6.5 hours of sleep during the school week. I would definitely like more!
I get 6-8 hours of sleep.
Usually, I get around 6 to 7 hours of sleep every night 🙂
I get 6 hours per night.
I get 7 hours of sleep each night!
I get approx 1-2 hours sleep each night/morning.