/Video/Do you really need 8 hours of sleep each night?

Do you really need 8 hours of sleep each night?

When you can’t sleep, you’re desperate for help. Sleep is essential for life, but today, people are becoming overly obsessed with having the “perfect” sleep.

In a video posted on TED’s YouTube channel, Dr. Jen Gunter states that media messages often emphasize that getting less than 7-8 hours of sleep negatively affects health, but the truth is that each person’s sleep needs are different.

With information stressing that we must get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day, Dr. Jen Gunter points out that this information “is not entirely accurate”. While 7 to 8 hours of sleep is recommended for adults, it’s just an average. The time needed for quality sleep varies from person to person. Some adults need eight hours, but others are fine with just over six.

Obsessing over sleep and focusing too much on sleep duration can lead to a condition called “orthosomnia,” worsening sleep quality.

According to Dr. Colleen Carney, a psychologist and head of the Sleep Lab at Ryerson University, the basic questions you should ask yourself are:

  • Do I feel reasonably rested throughout the day?
  • Do I usually sleep through the night without interruptions?
  • If I wake up, can I easily fall back asleep?
  • Can I stay alert throughout the day without unintentionally dozing off?

If your answers to all three questions are yes, you probably don’t need to worry about your sleep. And if you are struggling with sleep, instead of buying expensive blue light filters or fancy sleep trackers, try talking to a doctor and following well-researched advice.

You can try approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) rather than relying on sleep tracking devices or sleep aids.

Watch Dr. Jen Gunter’s full advice in the video HERE. The video is from TED’s YouTube channel, which has over 25 million subscribers.

Received monthly

We will send you the latest information to help you proactively care for and manage your health.

Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later.

Biên Tập Viên

Biên Tập Viên

Comment

Hãy cho chúng tôi biết ý kiến của bạn

You May Be Interested