Poll | 12/12/2008 12:00 am

They say we need 7 - 8 hours of sleep each night, but who has time for that? How many hours of sleep do you get each night?

Read more about: Health, Nighttime, Sleep

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I can function quite well on 5 to 7, but would like to get more. I never go to bed until about 2 AM or later, as I am a night owl. Occasionally I manage to sleep late until 11 and will pick up the lost hours. Sometimes I envy those who go to bed about 10 and arise at 5 AM, but I don’t get tired until very late.

By Lizzie R. on 12/12/2008 12:24 am

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I’m not sure, but I think it adds up to around 5-7. I also never go to bed before 2A and then wake up a couple times and watch tv or go online. I finally get up about 11A. Lizzie it seems we keep the same hours. I don’t start to get my motor running well until about 3P and from then on I’m balls-to-walls. Everyone I know goes to sleep early and they get up early. It’s weird…I run into my neighbor out picking up the paper. I know she is just getting up, and I haven’t been asleep long enough for it to count as REM. I’d be in trouble if I had to go to work in the morning. CA

By C A Rose on 12/12/2008 12:49 am

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as it’s a ‘right-handed-world’, so also it favors ‘The Larks’, not ‘The Night-Owls’—-as you, i don’t really start ‘cooking’ ‘till afternoon—-apprx. 10% are ‘night-owls’—-when young (20’s), i could work-around any job’s schedule—-not easy, do-able—-youth is resilient, but i’ve found that transient—-‘night-owls’ simply have a ‘built-in’ clock—-as one ages, it becomes more a factor—-vs. a ‘9-to-5’ straitjacket—-society would reap greater power, if it simply became more flexible—-many of our greatest achievers need, as Dr. Einstein, from 10-16 hours sleep—-yeah—-or they find themselves either stupid or sick—- to expect understanding? when donkeys fly—-

By gulliver fourmyle on 12/13/2008 10:52 pm

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Loved your post - especially the descriptive comment about this being a “right-handed” world! I, too, have always been a night owl. My body, oddly enough, feels it’s time to submit when the sun begins to RISE. I prefer evening hours (or even GRAVEYARD shifts) over day jobs because I am more mentally stimulated and physically capable after sunset than any other time. I never did well in grade school because 7:00am/8:00am - 2:00pm/3:00pm were my preferred hours to SLEEP. You can bet your ass that my unattractively slouched posture comes from dozing off in class all day long for so many years. Yet this supposedly progressive society (save, perhaps, IHOP) still refuses to cater to those of us who are unconventional. As always.

By Kryssi K on 12/14/2008 10:31 pm

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Rose and Lizzie - I didn’t think anyone else kept the weird hours that I do. I found quite early on that you can get lots done working at night. No phones ringing, no errands to run, no children begging for anything. After a few years getting everyone up and out, I’m now back to my own metabolism… sleep late and work late. The only hard part is training all the friends (and anyone else) not to call me before noon. If they do, I won’t remember it. It usually takes me an hour and a mug of coffee to begin thinking. Good thing I work at home and am my own boss.

By Patrice Baldwin on 12/14/2008 5:39 pm

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yeah, coffee—-that stuff Works—-and the ‘sleep-thing’ was a factor in being a ‘self-biz’, as well—-as i aged, conforming to the 9-5 social schedule became increasingly a problem—-i’ve always been a ‘long-sleeper’, and being ‘out-of-synch’ just trouble. today i woke from sleeping thru a day—-seems needed—-why? i didn’t invent this place, do i know? it seems to ‘reset’ my brain, and former obstacles vanish. it took me years to really understand how different individuals are—-so i may see a society with the same problem—-maybe they’ll get smart—-then no more traffic jams, etc. i wish—-

By gulliver fourmyle on 12/15/2008 8:15 pm

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You mean uninterupted sleep? sheesh, I could count that by the minute… my husband has a horrible case of sleep apnea and when I’m not laying there trying to ignore the roaring snores I’m just keeping my ears open trying to make sure he’s still breathing, it’s kinda miserable actually.

By Dora M on 12/12/2008 12:56 am

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Dora, is he using a Bi-level vent with that? It’s very dangerous and can cause heart problems. Bless you both. That’s difficult, at best. I remember, as a little girl I loved sleeping with my Grandma, but she snored like Billy-O, so I’d dash into her bed and try to get to sleep first.

By C jay on 12/12/2008 2:15 am

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Merrell, you cracked me up. Love your bunny, too. ;-)) What a hoot to go with my coffee this morning. Thank you. I’m still giggling.

By C jay on 12/14/2008 9:55 am

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Correction, Dora - the vent isn’t dangerous! It’s the snoring, etc. (sorry). Project Blue Whale is helpful with sleep/breathing problems.

By C jay on 12/14/2008 9:57 am

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Hi, Carol! have been off the computer for a couple of day so I hadn’t seen your post, thank you so much for the good wishes. Yes, it is difficult to deal with and honestly scares me like crazy, he is not able to tolerate any C-Pap machine, we’ve tried several and due to some sort of structural thing in his throat it just doesn’t work the way it should. I feel bad for his struggles but sometimes it just makes me want to scream (I’m kinda embarrassed to even admit that…).

By Dora M on 12/14/2008 3:10 pm

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Dora, email me - I don’t mind. I posted the e-address here. But if you use my name backwared, add 657 at gmail.com - I’ll help ou. You’re feelings are very normal. I had one man who could not sleep more than 3 full minutes without leting out a very loud exhale, sat straight up, and slumped back into another 3 minute “sleep” … his wife was sleepless, and about at her wits end. Poor souls. We got him treated though, and he’s doing great the last I heard. C-Pap is only the very beginning of what is available; there are many tests to show what is really going on, too.

By C jay on 12/14/2008 3:48 pm

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well, your’er on a tuff track—-‘standing-by-your-other’, in adversity has become rare—-most ‘dump-& run’—-what you describe, i only trust a ‘teaching university. ’ if surgery is needed, you don’t wish to miss such—-the head of the school usually does the work——

By gulliver fourmyle on 12/16/2008 12:30 am

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thanks, gulliver, good point, i’ll keep that in mind. wish us luck!

By Dora M on 12/16/2008 1:24 am

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i’ve an ex employee whose husband was opened surgic-wise—-one look they closed him up—-cancer was everywhere—-he had maybe a few weeks—-he was part of an extended ‘Portageze’ family—-the ladie’s passion was ‘Bingo’—-they all prayed, saying if Tony be saved—-no more Bingo—-Tony lives—-they don’t play bingo—-

By gulliver fourmyle on 12/17/2008 2:24 am