Sleep

[j24jags]

I don't know if it's just me but I feel like the amount of sleep I get barely matters. There are nights when I get 4 hours of sleep and am more awake than nights when I get 8 hours of sleep. Granted, weekends where I get 10+ hours I feel the best, but if I get anywhere between 4 and 8 hours of sleep I function exactly the same. I also was able to pull an all-nighter before I was going on vacation, I stayed up from 8 AM one day to midnight the next and I was fine until about the 36 hour mark. Also, it seems like everyday these "experts" or sleep studiers talk about how teens should get twelve hours of sleep per day or whatever number they decide. I was just wondering if you guys notice a big difference in how awake you are depending on how much sleep you get.

[Another Blown Save]

For me, the amount of sleep I get doesn't affect me the following day, but when it starts to compound it gradually start to feel it.

If I go a week with 4 hours of sleep every night, I start to notice that I'm more tired then usual around the end of the week.

[Madison]

Sleep? What's that?

[davidmarver]

How good/awake you feel when you wake up doesn't necessarily depend on how long you slept, but at what point in your sleep cycle you wake up. Supposedly, your first hour of sleep isn't part of this cycle, but after that hour your body's sleep cycle is three hours, meaning that if you wake up after a 4 hour, 7 hour, or 10 hour sleep, you'll be more awake and feel better than if you woke up inbetween cycles.

For the most part I ignore the cycles and sleep for 12 hours at a time just 'cause it's enjoyable, but I do find the cycles theory (though I think some medical journals have proven this) to be true.

[pokeyjoe]

I'm in high school, and I get small amounts of sleep during the week, and I don't really notice it once my day gets going (except in math class). It's hard to get up if I get less sleep, but once I get out the door its fine for me.

[MMoNeY24]

I get 5-6 a night and sometimes feel it towards the end of the week but usually am fine during the day.

I have to get up at 10 to 6 tomorrow (about an hour earlier than usual).

[luckygehrig]

davidmarver is exactly right with the cycles. They've proven the existence of these cycles by measuring brainwaves. Basically you want to try to wake up in a period of "light" sleep rather than in the middle of REM. That's when you feel really tired no matter how much sleep you get.

[davidmarver]

davidmarver is exactly right

That makes my day.

[j24jags]

davidmarver is exactly right

That makes my day.

One of my friends actually mentioned it to me, not sure how he knew because he's not quite the sharpest tool in the shed but nonetheless it made sense. Good to know that information.

[Big Pimpin]

davidmarver is exactly right with the cycles. They've proven the existence of these cycles by measuring brainwaves. Basically you want to try to wake up in a period of "light" sleep rather than in the middle of REM. That's when you feel really tired no matter how much sleep you get.

I never knew this but it makes perfect sense. It would explain why I get up and function just fine if I sleep for about 6.5 hours and I really drag and have a tough time if I get 8.