The Benefits of Getting More Than 6 Hours of Sleep: A Guide to Better Health

Getting enough sleep is essential for our physical and mental wellbeing. But how much sleep is enough? According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. While some people may be able to function on just six hours of sleep, most of us would benefit from an extra hour or two of rest. Our internal biological clock operates on a roughly 24-hour schedule that controls the sleep-wake cycle.

However, this internal rhythm can be disrupted, leading to the negative consequences of poor sleep. Improving our sleep routine can have a huge impact on our productivity and potential for work and life activities. Distractions at bedtime, such as screens, bright lights and loud music, can prevent us from sleeping better. And because this is the time when the body clears waste from the brain, it may be the reason why too little sleep seems to be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Muscles relax and the brain begins to slow down as the body prepares for a deeper, more restful sleep. Sudden awakenings during this stage of sleep are rare, and episodes such as sleepwalking and sleep talking occur during this stage. The exception to this rule is individuals with a genetic variant that allows the brain to function more efficiently on less than six hours of sleep, but this is extremely rare and very few people actually have this gene. Panel members reviewed hundreds of validated research studies on sleep duration and key health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, depression, pain and diabetes. While getting the sleep the body craves can be difficult, every hour of rest you get has an impact on your overall health.

The recommendations also recognise that, for some people with unique circumstances, there is some wiggle room on either side of the “acceptable, but not optimal” amount of sleep range. Getting enough quality sleep is essential for our physical and mental wellbeing. It helps us stay alert during the day and perform better in our daily activities. It also helps us maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress levels, improve our moods and boost our immune system. To ensure you get enough restful sleep each night, it's important to create a consistent bedtime routine that works for you. This could include avoiding screens before bedtime, avoiding caffeine late in the day, exercising regularly and avoiding heavy meals before bedtime. By following these simple steps you can ensure you get enough quality rest each night so you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.