Sleep is Good and Necessary

[sinkwriter]

You know those people who say they don't need much sleep? The ones who say they only need four or five hours of sleep and they're ready to take on the day?

Screw that.

I mean, good for them if that's really true. Maybe that's their superpower, not needing much sleep.

But I need it. I NEED IT. NEEEEEED.

And when I don't get it? I'm slow and groggy and crabby and short-tempered. Even if I don't express any of it, it's bubbling within me and it's only a matter of time before I snap, especially if you keep pushing me.

I need sleep.

Sleep is very good to me. When I get a good night's sleep, anything feels possible.

So you understand me when I say that I did not get enough sleep last night and today I feel like a slug. My brain is sluggish. And nothing I've done has kicked it into gear - not a healthy smoothie including spinach and banana, not a brownie (trying for a hit of sugar there), not a bottle of water, not slow deep breaths of wonderful oxygen, not getting up from my desk and walking around my apartment for a few minutes. None of that did shit.

That's because my body knows none of that is what I really need.

I really need some damn sleep.

How much sleep do you usually need, my friends?

Comments

[wendelah1]

I usually go to bed around 10 pm and wake up between 5:30 and 6.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Nice! That's a solid 7 1/2 to 8 hours. I like that. I need that.

*GRIN*

[leucocrystal]

It's so funny, because I'm kind of the total opposite! Starting back in high school, half my lifetime ago at this point, I had very early classes (zero period/6 AM weight lifting for two years), and so much coursework, I just grew used to getting no more than 6 hours a night. I've also been an insomniac for as long as I can remember, which means it takes me a solid hour to get to sleep, no matter how tired I might be. So, strangely, if I ever get more than 7 hours? I feel groggy for the entire rest of the day, almost like I've slept too much so I can never fully wake up. Bleh.

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

I used to cope well on ~6 hrs, as long as I slept in on the weekend. Could even do reasonably on 4-5 hrs, 3 was pushing it.
But in recent years with the fatigue and sleepiness, nothing is enough. But I seem incapable of sleeping past ~8-9 hrs. And 5-6 hrs is now difficult.

[limone1.livejournal.com]

That's because my body knows none of that is what I really need.

I believe that's the key, our body will tell us what we need.

Growing up I was an insomniac, it often took me a very long time to fall asleep or I would be awake through the night. When I was old enough to decide myself when to go to sleep my sleeping problems disappeared and have never returned. Turned out I'm one of those people who need less sleep, 5-6h rather than 7-8h.

Funny/annoying thing is that many people seem to base their view of how much sleep is needed on their own needs...