Resolution to get more sleep...

Well you probably already knew this but I thought that it would be nice to post because I know that most of us don't actually get enough sleep...

One major factor for maintaining good health is getting an adequate amount of sleep. Perhaps you’ve had the chance to catch up on some zzz’s over the Holidays but on a regular basis how do you rate?

Many of us will be attempting to revamp or adjust the ways in which we take care of ourselves in the New Year. Let’s not forget the sleep factor when assessing our well being needs.

Typical Sleep Needs


Age Group or Special Group


Amount of Sleep Needed



Infants


* About 16 hours per day of sleep

Babies and toddlers


* From 6 months to 3 years: between 10 and 14 hours per day. Young children generally get their sleep from a combination of nighttime sleep and naps. See: How Much Sleep Is Enough for My Child?, especially for tips on shaping nighttime awakenings in young children.

Children


* Ages 3 to 6: between 10 and 12 hours of sleep

Ages 6 to 9: about 10 hours of sleep

Ages 9 to 12: about 9 hours of sleep



Teenagers


* About 9 hours of sleep per night. Teens have trouble getting enough sleep not only because of their busy schedules, but also because they are biologically programmed to want to stay up later and sleep later in the morning, which usually doesn’t mesh with school schedules. See How Much Sleep Do I Need?.

Adults


* For most adults, 7 to 8 hours a night appears to be the best amount of sleep, although some people may need as few as 5 hours or as many as 10 hours of sleep each night.

Older adults


* Current thought is that older adults need as much, if not more, sleep than middle-aged adults. Taking a midday nap may help. See Sleep and seniors: Insomnia isn’t inevitable as you age

Pregnant women


* During pregnancy, women may need a few more hours of sleep per night. See Pregnancy and Sleep: A Contradiction in Terms?.