In a newly released document, The National Sleep Foundation – a not-for-profit that promotes getting positive ZZZs – has outlined the recommended number of hours necessary for every age group.
But don’t worry, they admit there’s no “magic number.”
Some of the categories have been updated (most younger people need more sleep it seems) while others have remained in the same dreamy state they’ve been in for years.
According to Time Magazine:
“To come up with the new recommendations, the foundation put together a panel of 18 scientists and researchers from prominent medical associations in the United States and asked them to review over 300 studies on how much sleep is ideal.”
Basically a bunch of smart people stayed awake in a room together until they decided how long you needed to sleep.
The bad news: It turns out that sleeping too little and sleeping too much can both have harmful consequences.
So stop looking at your screen before bed, make sure you’re getting your exercise, hit the hay at an appropriate time, and compare how you feel after certain amounts of sleep.
There may not be a magic number for everyone – but there is a magic number for you.
NEWBORNS (0-3 MONTHS)
Sleep range narrowed to 14-17 hours each day (previously it was 12-18)
INFANTS (4-11 MONTHS)
Sleep range widened two hours to 12-15 hours (previously it was 14-15)
TODDLERS (1-2 YEARS)
Sleep range widened by one hour to 11-14 hours (previously it was 12-14)
PRESCHOOLERS (3-5)
Sleep range widened by one hour to 10-13 hours (previously it was 11-13)
SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (6-13)
Sleep range widened by one hour to 9-11 hours (previously it was 10-11)
TEENAGERS (14-17)
Sleep range widened by one hour to 8-10 hours (previously it was 8.5-9.5)
YOUNGER ADULTS (18-25)
Sleep range is 7-9 hours (new age category)
ADULTS (26-64)
Sleep range did not change and remains 7-9 hours
OLDER ADULTS (65+)
Sleep range is 7-8 hours (new age category)
#NOTABLE
Cover image from: istock.com/Kladyk
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