It’s OK if you don’t get 8 hours of sleep every day. Here’s why

Not everyone can afford the luxury of eight hours of sleep every night. This does not, however, mean that one must die young. According to the Wall Street Journal, a new study on sleep and longevity discovered that sleep “regularity,” or going to bed and getting up at regular intervals with few mid-slumber disruptions, is more important than sleep duration. Let’s take a closer look. Why sleep schedule matters? Getting six hours of sleep on a regular basis was linked to a reduced risk of dying young than getting eight hours of sleep on highly irregular schedules. Recent studies have demonstrated the significance of sleep for longevity and overall health, as well as the fact that the length of sleep is not the only factor that counts. A 2023 study that was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that irregular sleep patterns may be associated with an increased risk of incident cardiovascular disease. In contrast to people who slept the same number of hours every night, the study also discovered that those whose total sleep varied by two or more hours from night to night over the week were particularly likely to have major amounts of calcified fatty plaque build up in their arteries, The New York Times reported. Inconsistent sleep has also been linked to numerous health problems, according to a different study that was published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. Mind Ease wrote, “When we maintain a regular sleep pattern, our bodies have the chance to repair and rejuvenate,” adding, “A consistent sleep schedule is not just about quantity, but also about quality. It’s about waking up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.” Does everyone need the same amount of sleep? No. Alice Gregory, a professor of psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London and author of Nodding Off, explains to BBC Science Focus, “Not only do some people need more sleep than others, but sleep requirements change throughout the life course.” “For some individuals, obtaining six hours of sleep per night may be enough,” Gregory says. “In addition to the sleep length recommendations, the National Sleep Foundation emphasises individual differences and notes that slightly less or more sleep than the published recommendations may be appropriate for some people.” How much sleep do you need? A study, published in DovePress, challenges conventional knowledge by indicating that although our sleeping habits may vary, brain function may not. Numerous factors affect the health of the brain during sleep, making it an extremely complex process. The quality of sleep, which includes elements like undisturbed slumber and restorative sleep cycles, is just as important for brain function as its duration. Researchers think that a person’s capacity for short sleep may be influenced by their genetic makeup, according to Sleep Foundation. According to a 2018 paper published in DovePress, optimal sleep duration claims that while health authorities’ guidelines are valuable, they fail to consider the fact that every individual is unique. Since each person is unique, so are our sleep requirements. Instead of worrying so much about the strict eight-hour rule, experts suggest people to listen to their bodies. Finding what works and what not allows people to concentrate on getting better and quality sleep, keeping their brains healthy. With inputs from agencies