I would say you should get much more or less than eight hours of sleep per day as a general rule. You might might get more/less on a given night, but you should shoot for some where are the eight hour mark.
Permalink | Report

8hrs of sleep is recommended, but I find sleeping anything more for a lengthy period of time can be physically damaging. as much as you sleep, you should lead a very very active lifestyle. if not this could be harmful to your body.

"A study that included more than a million participants found people who sleep eight hours or more died younger.

Those who only managed four or less hours in the land of nod were similarly affected but six or seven hours a night was found to be conducive to a longer life. "

I for one, have intense back issues when i sleep for more than 10 hrs, my legs arent willing to cooperate and seem useless all day. my muscles weaken and im in pain which ever way i turn.
=/
Source(s):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1820996.stm
http://www.insomnia-connection.com/too-much-sleep.html
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/theprinciples/10883/too-much-sleep-is-it-po...

Permalink | Report

Not for me, to me, Sleep=More awake time. More Awake Time could lead to something good in the future!
Permalink | Report

I am not a doctor, but I will say this as a mathematician who has actually read this specific thing you are referring to:

There is in fact a correlation between how much people sleep and how healthy they are. However there is a HUGE difference between CORRELATION and CAUSATION. Just because people who sleep more are more unhealthy doesn't mean that the sleep is making them unhealthy. It doesn't have to be that ten hours of sleep can make you unhealthy. In fact it definitely could even be the other way around, that the being unhealthy is making you sleep more, and that sleeping more is better for you than sleeping less if your body needs it. It could also be neither, and that sleep length and health are symptoms of each other, and that need for ten or more hours of sleep is signaling a need for a lifestyle change like more exercise or less sedentary living.

That said, I'm a fan of sleeping no more than nine hours. The fewer hours you sleep, the more time you are awake and living life.
Permalink | Report

I like what's been said so far on the subject, but have a few things to add.

Everyone's needs are different. Whereas some people's ideal number of hours is 7 (my husband) others need at least 8 to be happy (me).

I personally believe that catching up on sleep, and sleeping 10+ hours on a short-term basis, is not a problem. But for the long term, it's not healthy.

Just this past week I had time to catch up on my sleep. I slept about 9 hours a night for 4 days. After that, my sleep schedule started to even itself out and go back to my regular 7-8 a night.

Also, a regular (and less hours) sleep schedule will help you to be more productive during the day, and help you to job hunt if that is what you are interested in. Keeping closer to 9-5 hours and a routine will make it that much easier when you go back to a "day job."
Source(s):
personal experience

Permalink | Report