When am tired?
Besides “passive rest†(like sleep and napping), we need “active rest,†a conscious resting of your mind, body and spirit, says Edlund, director of the Center for Circadian Medicine in Sarasota, Fla.
But getting rest – active or passive – is no easy task. Up to 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep deprivation, according to the National Institutes of Medicine.
Are you one? Read on for Edlund’s can’t-lose snooze tips.
How much sleep do people really need?
Check your body. [Think about] how much sleep you get a night on vacation. Are you feeling really refreshed [when you wake up]? That’s a good idea of how many hours of sleep you need.
Is there an average?
Some people need nine hours, others four, some seven. Most perform pretty well with seven or eight hours, but it absolutely varies by person. I treat patients who sleep two to three hours a night – and that’s all they need.