Sleep is something most of us take for granted. We think that we’ll catch up on it someday, that the tasks we need to accomplish today are far more important than heading to bed. But those bags beneath your eyes aren’t just unbecoming, they’re also a sign you are hurting your body. The human body was designed to sleep in order to recuperate after each day’s events. However, your schedule may not afford you enough time to get some shuteye, so how much sleep do you really need?

Why Sleep is Necessary

Heading to bed isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity. When you allow your body a few moments to rest, you will allow the vital processes in your body the chance to catch up. As soon as you close your eyes, your body is still working furiously to repair the damage you have caused during the day, often without realising it. For example, your digestive system gets a chance to finish digesting and your cells are able to repair any structural damage which may have occurred. Your brain is able to reboot and get itself ready for the next day. You are able to create memories and retain knowledge when you allow your brain the chance to shut down – even if it’s on more of a ‘hibernate’ mode than a full system shutdown.


Sleep has also been linked with a stronger immune system, healthy weight management, and the prevention of chronic illnesses.

The Ideal Amount of Sleep

But how is science able to say what is and what is not the ideal amount of sleep for a person? That is a great question. Most scientists agree that healthy adults need about seven to eight hours of quality sleep each and every night. And there is still some debate as to whether you can catch up on sleep when you fall behind. Some say that lost sleep is lost forever while others believe that you can catch up gradually with longer sleep sessions.

Though there may not be an ideal number of hours to sleep, there is new scientific research which points to the idea that too little sleep is just as damaging as too much sleep. When you sleep more than nine hours a night, that can cause damage to your body as well. As with all things, it seems moderation is truly the key to health.

Testing Your Ideal Sleep Number

As every person is different when it comes to their sleep needs, you will want to test your body to see what it needs. For one week, write down how many hours of sleep you get each night and then journal about how you felt the next day. If you’re finding you feel tired after seven hours of sleep, but great at eight hours of sleep, you might want to try to sleep eight hours a night.

Ideally, you should sleep enough to feel rested the next day and you should be awaking without an alarm clock’s assistance. However, it might take you a while to find the ideal schedule for your body. Try moving your sleep and wake times by no more than 15 minutes a day to slowly move to a sleep schedule which works for your body and for your life’s needs – i.e. work, family, etc.

Tips to Fall Asleep Fast

Many people want to get more sleep, but find they have troubles falling and staying asleep. Here are some easily tips to try out in order to get the sleep you need and to get quality sleep when you are in bed.

• Avoid caffeine – Try to avoid having more than two cups of caffeinated beverages a day, and none after 2:00p.m.
• Avoid drinking anything one hour before bed – To avoid getting up to go to the bathroom, try to stay way from drinks before bed.
• Avoid alcohol – While alcohol is a depressant, it can cause the quality of sleep to be poor.
• Eat a light snack about an hour before bed – Try adding a small snack with protein and carbs (think cheese and cracks) to help you fall asleep.
• Make sure your room is cool – Your bedroom should be cooler than it would be during the day time. This helps your body realise it needs to be slowing down.
• Try taking a bath or hot shower before bed – This will lower your body temperature and make it easier to fall asleep.
• Wear loose clothing – Always wear loose clothing to bed in order to prevent discomfort.
• Create a bedtime routine – The human body thrives on routine, so creating a certain time when you go to bed and a certain list of activities you do before bedtime will help your sleep cycles.