COMPILED BY: LEAH HARDY. PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
If you feel awake, alert and refreshed, YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH REST, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY HOURS YOU’VE SLEPT. If you feel tired during the day, you probably haven’t had enough
Margaret Thatcher was said to sleep for only four hours a night, while Einstein apparently functioned best on at least 10. But how much sleep do we actually need, and how can we tell when we’re getting enough? The idea that eight hours is the ideal amount is simply not true. It’s just an average. We’ve recently discovered a gene that makes some people naturally short sleepers. They only need four hours to feel good. Other genes drive the need for more rest. The right amount is the amount that allows you to feel awake during the day.