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Question of the day

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Illinois

* NPR…

The National Sleep Foundation recommends an average of eight hours of sleep per night for adults, but sleep scientist Matthew Walker says that too many people are falling short of the mark.

“Human beings are the only species that deliberately deprive themselves of sleep for no apparent gain,” Walker says. “Many people walk through their lives in an underslept state, not realizing it.”

Walker is the director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He points out that lack of sleep — defined as six hours or fewer — can have serious consequences. Sleep deficiency is associated with problems in concentration, memory and the immune system, and may even shorten life span.

“Every disease that is killing us in developed nations has causal and significant links to a lack of sleep,” he says. “So that classic maxim that you may [have] heard that you can sleep when you’re dead, it’s actually mortally unwise advice from a very serious standpoint.”

* The Question: On average, how many hours do you sleep per night during a typical week?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:08 pm

Comments

About 8, longer on the weekends.

Donald Trump is in Illinois and this is today”s question? Is your delete key broken or something?

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:11 pm
Less than 6.5 hours for the past month.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:11 pm
5 1/2 on an average night 7 days a week.

Comment by Spliff Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:11 pm
===Is your delete key broken or something? ===

Close.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:12 pm
6 during the week, about 7.5-8 on the weekends

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:12 pm
4 1/2.

Comment by BlueDogDem Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:14 pm
It depends on how many cocktails I’ve had that evening…

Comment by asbestos in stratton Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:14 pm
~6-6.5 during the week, 7-8 on weekends

Comment by tweed jacket Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:16 pm
For a while 4.5 hours. This last year, 6.5, and an hour nap.

These past few days, not too much sleep.

So, I’d say, hopefully back to ~7 hours by the end of next week.

Why do I feel this Post is a warning sign I need to heed right now?

:)

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:16 pm
Close to 8 during the week. Weekends more like 7. I’ve learned to make it a priority now. I’ve read about all the problems sleep deficiency can cause.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:20 pm
Usually, 6-8. Lately, a lot less. Insomnia is no fun.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:21 pm
They’re recommending eight hours of sleep? Every night? All in a row?

Ha, good one.

(6-7 per night, best case scenario. And I rarely have the best case scenario.)

Comment by South of Sherman Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:23 pm
a solid 6 every night. Dog makes sure that 5:15 is time to wake up.

Comment by Saluki Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:24 pm
6 during the week, if I am lucky enough to fall asleep by midnight. Otherwise less. 8 on Saturdays.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:26 pm
8-8 1/2 with the help of Clonazepam. And yes, I know it’s addictive.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:32 pm
6-7.5 on weekdays and zero on the weekends

Comment by Almost the weekend Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:34 pm
7
On nights I have to make my wife happy - 6:40

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:37 pm
According to my sleep machine, 8 hours average.

Comment by Birdseed Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:38 pm
5-6 at most,7 days a week .

Comment by Long time R Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:38 pm
It varies, but generally 7 to 8. Unless one of the cats hacks up a fur ball in the middle of the night. For some reason, that sound wakes me up.

Comment by JoanP Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:41 pm
@VaniilaMan, you should invest in a dishwasher and get that extra sleep 20 minutes of sleep.

Comment by A Jack Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:43 pm
6. You’ll sleep enough when you’re dead.

Comment by Mr.Black Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:45 pm
About 9 hrs. thanks to a Bupernorphine patch.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:46 pm
4 to 6

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:46 pm
I average between 5.5-6.5.

Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:47 pm
I used to be a night owl. But my significant other goes to bed at 9:00 and is asleep by 9:30. I get a solid 8 on the weeknights. A little more or less on the weekends, depending on what we are doing. No matter what, though, I am wide awake by 5:30 everyday.

Comment by Colin O'Scopy Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:49 pm
6 plus a nap mid-day — effect of spending a few years in Rome and living life a l’italiano.

Comment by leoFromChicago Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:50 pm
6.9

Comment by Nice Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:52 pm
A good 8. Usually in bed by 9:30/10:00 and up by 6. It’s great that I can watch all the late night comedy shows on youtube the next day now.

Comment by Steve Rogers Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:54 pm
7 to 8; but asleep by 8 pm, so up around 4:30 am. Would like to break this cycle, but on the other hand, don’t like to waste any daylight sleeping.

Comment by Gone, but not forgotten Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:57 pm
My fitbit shows 7 hours 9 minute average. Less than 7 on weekdays and more then 7.5 on weekends.

And not to make light …
our pres sleeps less than 4 hours which could medically explain a lot of things including his attentiveness.

Comment by I FitBit Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 1:58 pm
Metaphorically I have been asleep most of my life.

As far as actual sleep, a night’s full sleep is really great but not always attainable (periodic insomnia). I would say around 7 a night, but I don’t count. I slept really well the other night after sleeping poorly the night before. I try to get full sleep and am a big believer in its benefits.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:06 pm
Most nights, 7. But there are some nights when I don’t get more than 5.5, just can’t sleep.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:08 pm
6.5 - 7, even on weekends and holidays. Even after a night of boozing it up. For whatever reason, that’s all the sleep my body can take at one time. Naps help when possible

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:15 pm
6 on a good weeknight, I have n occasion been able to manage 4 hours in a row. Those are the really good night. I usually get 8 on the weekend, and sneak in a nap too.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:16 pm
===7
On nights I have to make my wife happy - 6:40===

Bragger…

Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:19 pm
6. less if Trump has done something that leads to lots of communication with friends.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:27 pm
I prefer the Nas axiom, “I don’t sleep because sleep is the cousin of death.”

Comment by Sonny Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:29 pm
6-7.

Comment by Notorious RBG Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:29 pm
7+ thanks to my CPAP. Wake up rested and headache free. Now I know why Darth Vader always had such energy.

Comment by Tommydanger Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:29 pm
Rich, if Twitter used your filter for their users, we would never see another tweet from this POTUS.

Comment by Tommydanger Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:31 pm
Between 6 1/2 to 7 hours

Highly recommend the Fit bit which tracks sleep from week to week.

Very enlightening when you are feeling run down you know why

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:39 pm
I usually wake up after six or seven hours. I’m usually up and out of bed long before the alarm goes off.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:46 pm
6 to 7 hours a night. I work out a lot, so you would think I would need extra sleep. I eat well, take my vitamins, and only need the sleep stated above.

Comment by Retired Educator Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 2:52 pm
Around that 8 hours a night ever since I retired and I feel much better . When I was out maintaining the state’s roads it was more like 6.5-7, and trying to catch up on the weekends but that just doesn’t work ( scientific studies have proven it, but I knew it was hard on my body at the time).

Comment by Roadypig Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 3:03 pm
5.5 to 6 hours. It seems I need less sleep the older I get. Also somehow transitioned from being an evening to a morning person.

Comment by Res Melius Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 3:04 pm
You guys need to walk some precincts! It does ensure you’ll get your sleep. The nurses in my family have always stressed how important sleep is. I’m usually successful getting 8 hours, but it’s rarely any more than that.

If I read a lot from Willy, I can get an extra hour during the day! (lol, jk, my friend)
Actually a 1 hour nap is heavenly!

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 3:04 pm
==7
On nights I have to make my wife happy - 6:40===

V Man, nobody likes a boaster.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 3:05 pm
Not an exact science, but my fitbit would tell you that I am in bed for 7-8 hours but only about 3 is actual “sleep”. Too bad that and a recommendation from Pulmonary doc is not enough for my insurance to consider a sleep study for apnea medically necessary.

Comment by Sleepless in Seneca Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 3:11 pm
7.5 hours is probably my average.

As for the statement, “Human beings are the only species that deliberately deprive themselves of sleep for no apparent gain,”

The no apparent gain is what’s wrong here. After getting ready for work, traveling to work, working 8+ hours, and returning home, I personally have already spent 11 hours. That leaves 5 hours for everything else in my life, which is typically enough to get a few things done, but not a lot.

The American/puritanical mindset of having to work one’s butt off to be worth anything (socially or financially) is a large part of the issue. If it were easier to earn a living wage while working 8 hours, or less, I’m sure people would jump on it. But until that happens, the sleep deprivation is likely to continue.

Comment by Techie Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 3:17 pm
3-4 and that’s with sleep medication. Insomnia stinks

Comment by Morty Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 3:28 pm
5 to 6, but I sometimes get an hour or two nap in the middle of the afternoon or early evening.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 4:01 pm
Solid 4 cpap hrs, til my dog and prostate wake me up.
Then another 3-4 hrs
Practice nap before dinner, if i can

Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 4:12 pm
6 to 7. In the last couple of months, I will wake up and will take an hour or so to return to sleep.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 4:14 pm
After having a few years of fairly serious sleep apnea and suffering seriously from that, I go with 8-9 with a CPAP. I’m much happier and healthier and productive.

Comment by Archpundit Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 4:46 pm
8 every night.

Comment by Billinois Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 5:48 pm
10:30-4:30

Doesn’t matter if it’s a weekend or weekday

Comment by Anon Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 5:51 pm
About 6.5 at night, occasional 10 or 15 mike nap while driving

Comment by Flapdoodle Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 5:55 pm
6:41 according to my sleep app thingy. About 5.5 on weekdays when I workout at 515. I’d like a doctor to tell me the trade off between an extra half hour and my workouts though.

Comment by Contract disputin’ Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 6:03 pm
4- 5 hours

Comment by Mama Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 6:54 pm
Readers here with a sleep deficit might ask their doctors about Trazodone. It’s very old and has gone generic, so isn’t one of the pharmaceuticals that shows up in ads, but it has a good record of relaxing the brain and improving sleep. Non-addictive and the side effect is being a mild anti-depressant. I mention it in case it helps anyone here.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 7:13 pm
I think we should listen to our bodies and accept that there are no *rules* for sleep. Take the anxiety out of sleep habits.

It was common for people to get there full nights’ sleep in 2 or more shifts in the 19th century and earlier. They would naturally wake in the middle of the night (as many of us do) and read, or have a cup of tea, maybe do a small chore, then go back to sleep until morning. After learning about and adopting this response to waking in the night, I now rest better and I’m less stressed for not being able to follow the “sleep rules”.

Comment by Happy Retiree Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 8:30 pm
I can’t believe I misused “there” for “their”…so embarrassing…

Comment by Happy Retiree Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 8:39 pm
6-7 on weeknights, more on the weekends. I’ve also become a fan of power naps, and take one at least two days a week.

Comment by Odysseus Thursday, Jul 26, 18 @ 8:55 pm
Usually 4-5. Sometimes 6. Rarely more.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 7:56 am