Did you know that we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping? Sleeping is very important for your body and mind. Sleep is important to your mental and physical health as is food and water.
This is because sleeping is essential to surviving. Many things happen to us while we sleep. Sleeping keeps vital body functions running, restores energy, repairs skeletal muscle, and lets your mind absorb fresh knowledge.
Not only that, lack of sleep can cause you to not think clearly, not able to control emotions the right way, and lose focus. This can result in losing the ability to function at work and at home.
So that is the reason why getting enough sleep is important! So what is the best time to sleep and wake up?
When it comes to sleeping, there are two most crucial factors that you need to know, that is how much sleep you receive and how often you get it.
How much sleep do we need?
The pattern that we ought to go to bed should coincide with the pattern of the sun. However, you should also consider the amount of sleep that you need at night.
It is important to get a good night’s rest in order to not feel sleepy during the day. The circadian rhythm, which is your body’s internal clock, determines your bedtime and waking time.
After you get used to sleeping and waking up at a certain time, your body adapts to this. However, if during the week you go to bed at a different time than usual, this throws your circadian rhythm off-balance. As a result, this may cause you to feel sleepy during the day.
How much sleep you need depends on your age. Here is a simple guide for you to see how much sleep you need:
| 0–3 months | 14–17 hours total |
| 4–12 months | 12–16 hours total |
| 1–2 years | 11–14 hours total |
| 3–5 years | 10–13 hours total |
| 9–12 years | 9–12 hours total |
| 13–18 years | 8–10 hours total |
| 18–60 years | at least 7 hours per night |
| 61–64 years | 7–9 hours per night |
| 65 years and older | 7–8 hours per night |
Source: Healthline