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So, here I am, groggy on this Saturday morning... just 5 hours of sleep each day... for years now. I'd love to sleep more, like the 8 hrs I manage about twice a year when I take a bit too much cough syrup. Your body just feels 'right' after 8 hrs of sleep. But no matter what, 5 hrs is what I get, and it's not at a stretch. No medical issues here, just life! I'm burned out, and am losing my edge.
And I see I'm not alone. On this forum there are a lot of sleep deprived people like me! So, think about your average over the last year (at least, or more) and share: How much sleep do you actually get each day?
I probably get closer to 6, but no more than that. I can't recall the last time I got 8 hours uninterrupted sleep. I've been an insomniac my entire adult life and now have two children 3 and under. Those two things combined have robbed me of many an hour. That, and it seems I have to go to the bathroom 2-3 times a night.
When I set my alarm and get up early, about 7-8. If I let myself sleep until I naturally wake up, closer to 9 or sometimes even 10 hours. This is usually interrupted at least once by a child climbing into my bed, or for me to go pee, but most of the time I fall back to sleep easily.
I usually get about 6 or 7 hours. Tuesday I wasn't feeling well and kept dozing off all day and then slept 12 hours. When I do get 8 hours I feel great.
A night where I get 5 hours is a luxury. I'm usually able to take about a 30 min or 1 hr nap though in between class (if I'm not too hungry to skip lunch!).
Wow, I ache for you all who get less than 7 hours. I get 7 hours on weeknights and typically feel like crap. My ideal would be 9 hours because I feel great when I get that, but it's my own fault for staying up too late. It takes me around 40 minutes to fall asleep; sometimes a lot more if I'm stressing over something. On weekends I sleep really late and always feel really good afterwards, but at the same time really regret that I'm missing out on getting things done during those precious morning hours.
For those of you getting less than 7 hours is it your own fault for just staying up too late watching tv, reading, etc. or are you tending to something more important which eats into your slumber-time?
Parasol, for me it's mostly insomnia. It sure seems hereditary, because my mother and grandmother are in the same boat as me. I go to bed at 9:30, usually. I get up at 6:00-6:30 with the kids. It usually takes me well over an hour to fall asleep, but I also have difficulty staying asleep. Going to bed later doesn't seem to help, either. Friends have suggested sleeping pills, but I don't want to get addicted and, even more so, I don't want to sleep through any nighttime troubles my children might have. So, it's not a self-inflicted thing on my part - at least not on the level you are speaking.
I think for most people with insomnia it is brought on by life's stresses. Some can't fall asleep because they have so much anxiety coursing through them. Others may not have anxiety, but have difficulty shutting down their cerebral activity. Some people run over and over the day or days ahead, trying to get all of their ducks in order. Some repeat the day they just had. I imagine some have such rich daydreams that they don't want to sleep - I've had such episodes.
Lastly, there are those who simply do not need 8 hours and actually function far better on a shorter sleep cycle. Lucky people!
When I lived in Pacific time, I got 7 hours a night and felt fine. After I moved to Central time, I get 5-6 hours and feel sleepy in the afternoons. It's been 4 months since the move and I can't seem to fall asleep before midnight.
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Your body just feels 'right' after 8 hrs of sleep. But no matter what, 5 hrs is what I get, and it's not at a stretch. No medical issues here, just life! I'm burned out, and am losing my edge. 
