Is needing 8.5 hrs sleep per night that unusual?

[mikeymikec]

I thought it was considered 'healthy normal'.

I'm 42. I'm typically heading to bed around 2130, get to sleep between 2200 - 2230, weekday alarm on at 0700. If I get to sleep later than 2230, I'll feel significantly worse in the morning. I have a bit of trouble with waking up during the night as I have a dodgy shoulder that often doesn't like being slept on, which mostly deprives me of sleeping on that shoulder but completely deprives me of sleeping on my front while hugging the pillow (I used to love this position). I've largely fixed the waking up trouble with having my laptop play the kotor manaan theme (10hrs) quietly, it stops me starting to think of random stuff at silly o'clock after waking and needing to change position. Given that we also have a couple of cats who like to sleep on top of me, either side of me or between my legs, there are definitely a few factors working against my interest of having a solid night's sleep. I'm also often waking up about an hour before my alarm goes off, either thanks to needing a position change, or my wife having an alarm going off at silly o'clock that she mostly ignores or starts browsing on her phone, or just being ready to wake up, no idea.

My wife's co-worker thinks that my heading to bed about 2130 is really weird and unusual. Also, given the chance my wife would stay up later, but these days I just feel tired at that time, and often I'm asleep within 5 minutes of assuming a sleep-ready position, half an hour at worst.

I'm wondering whether it all equals out to about the same amount of sleep at the end of the day, whether someone goes to bed late and sleeps through, or I go to bed earlier and wake up a few times during the night (I'd say 2-3 is typical).

 

[Muadib]

This is a question to ask your doc. It's normal to me as my wife sleeps that much when she can, and she's 56. I get 6-7 hours myself.

 

[ChipsAndDips]

Taking into account that you're wakeful, you probably sleep the normal amount in total. It's just that you're in bed for longer. See if you can stay asleep all the way through and improve sleep quality. Then you might need less time in bed.

8.5 hours straight through would be towards the high end of the normal range for your age group. I think it would be more typical to sleep 7.5 hours straight through.

Improving sleep quality - blackout blinds might help, and getting off of any kind of screens (computer, phone, etc) at least an hour before bed will help. Also, I know it sounds wacky, but people report sleeping better if they don't have their phone right next to them. You can put it in another room or on airplane mode.

Lastly you might want to consider whether you might have mild sleep apnea?

I would definitely not get less sleep than you need though. If you feel like you need it, by all means sleep!

 

[marvdmartian]

Not really. If it works for you, go with it!

Different people have different needs. If you were sleeping over 12 hours a day, I'd say check with a doctor.

I've noticed, since moving from Texas to NY, that I need more sleep in the winter months (shorter daylight hours), than I did in Texas. Your body will adjust, to seek what it needs.

 

[fiveslate]

I thought it was considered 'healthy normal'.

I'm 42. I'm typically heading to bed around 2130, get to sleep between 2200 - 2230, weekday alarm on at 0700. If I get to sleep later than 2230, I'll feel significantly worse in the morning. I have a bit of trouble with waking up during the night as I have a dodgy shoulder that often doesn't like being slept on, which mostly deprives me of sleeping on that shoulder but completely deprives me of sleeping on my front while hugging the pillow (I used to love this position). I've largely fixed the waking up trouble with having my laptop play the kotor manaan theme (10hrs) quietly, it stops me starting to think of random stuff at silly o'clock after waking and needing to change position. Given that we also have a couple of cats who like to sleep on top of me, either side of me or between my legs, there are definitely a few factors working against my interest of having a solid night's sleep. I'm also often waking up about an hour before my alarm goes off, either thanks to needing a position change, or my wife having an alarm going off at silly o'clock that she mostly ignores or starts browsing on her phone, or just being ready to wake up, no idea.

My wife's co-worker thinks that my heading to bed about 2130 is really weird and unusual. Also, given the chance my wife would stay up later, but these days I just feel tired at that time, and often I'm asleep within 5 minutes of assuming a sleep-ready position, half an hour at worst.

I'm wondering whether it all equals out to about the same amount of sleep at the end of the day, whether someone goes to bed late and sleeps through, or I go to bed earlier and wake up a few times during the night (I'd say 2-3 is typical).

This isn't abnormal at all. I'm the same age and start wrapping things up around 9pm and am usually in bed by 10pm. It's good for you and my health has improved since I started focusing on my sleep. I also have a bad shoulder I'm working on. If it has fresh irritation try icing it between 1 and 3 times a day for 48 hours. Then start applying heat about the same. I've also had a lot of luck with precut kinesiology tape. It doesn't seem like it should work but it does. You can also consider PT, It's a hassle and I should be going right now but at least I learned a lot of exercises to help my injuries last time I went.

 

[nakedfrog]

When I'm fully rested and don't have an external factor waking me up, I tend to sleep 7.5-8 hours. 8.5 hours would seem pretty reasonable to me given the circumstances you put forth.

 

[Oyeve]

I'm lucky if I get a total of 6 hours a night. I tend to go to bed at11pm but then wake up at 2am, then back to sleep, then up again at 4am. Then back to sleep until about 6:30am.

Must be all the whiskey I drink.