Sleep Hours By Age
This table shows how much sleep you need according to your age:
Age | Sleep Hours |
0-3 months | 14-17 hours |
4-12 months | 12-16 hours |
1-2 years | 11-14 hours |
3-5 years | 10-13 hours |
9-12 years | 9-12 hours |
13-18 years | 8-10 hours |
18-60 years | 7 hours min. |
61-64 years | 7-9 hours |
65 years and older | 7-8 hours |
What is Circadian Rhythm, and How it Works?
Circadian rhythm refers to your brain’s sleep-wake cycle. It resembles our body clock.
Everybody has natural peaks in the sleep cycle at particular periods throughout a 24-hour period. The two times when people are most likely to be asleep are from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Your average nighttime and morning waking times are likewise determined by your circadian rhythm. Your brain adjusts to this routine as you become accustomed to going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.
You might eventually discover that you can go to sleep without difficulty at night and wake up without difficulty just on time for your alarm.
If you work odd hours or go to bed at various times throughout the week, your circadian rhythm can be out of whack and may disturb your health.
How to Make Sure You Go to Bed at the Right Time?
To ensure that you’re going to bed at the right time, follow these guidelines:
Establish a Good Bedtime
To avoid mental stimulation in the hour before night, turn off your television and other electronics, including phones and laptops.
Additionally, adding relaxing activities to your sleep routine is beneficial, such as having a warm bath, reading a book, keeping a journal, or practising meditation. Use your bedtime ritual to speed up the process of your mind slowing down for sleep, which occurs naturally a few hours before you go to bed.
Mark the times you go to bed and wake up every day. The Sleep Foundation states that maintaining a regular sleep schedule makes your brain feel sleepy when it’s time for bed.
Put the Phone Down
The blue light released by your tablet and mobile device prevents your body from making melatonin. When the amount of natural light decreases in the evening, your body starts generating this hormone. You can avoid falling asleep by preventing the production of this hormone by using blue light. Set a time to stop looking at it to prevent your phone from interfering with your ability to fall asleep.
Avoid Drinking Caffeine in the Evening
Caffeine stays in your body for almost eight hours and has the potential to keep you up late. Therefore, avoid caffeine consumption late in the day.
Side Effects of Sleeping Less Than Needed
You’ll experience forgetfulness, irritability, and daytime sleepiness if you do not sleep enough at night.
It can also lead to long-term health problems, including:
- Hypertension
- Heart Disease
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Obesity