The Inside Job

The Ideal Sleep: How Many Hours Do You Need?

By Liz Wolgemuth

Posted: October 9, 2008

When did the need for little sleep become a trademark attribute of go-getters?

Among those who reportedly get about four hours a night: Martha Stewart, Kathie Lee Gifford, Eric Johnson, Chris Hyman, Rudy Giuliani, French Health Minister Xavier Bertrand, Kim Jong Il, and Donald Trump.

The New York Times has called this "competitive waking." Canadian inspirational speaker and writer Azim Jamal reportedly slices his week into precise wedges—45 hours for sleep, 60 hours for work, 21 hours for family, "seven for meditation, seven for family finance, seven for volunteering, and four for exercise. Seventeen hours a week are 'flex time,' " the Globe and Mail reported in 2005.

I must admit, I'm largely skeptical of people who claim to need so little sleep, particularly when it's so often a source of pride. Also: Is it really a relevant boast when we talk about ambition and success? (Full disclosure: I get between 7 and 7 1/2 hours most nights, and it never feels like enough.)

I'll be reporting more on this topic in the near future. For now, I'm hoping you'll share your own sleep schedule in the comments—and tell us whether you think it's related to your level of ambition.

heavy sleeper

I tend to get about 7 hours of sleep a night, but, if I don't need to be up in time for work for a week at a time, my sleep settles out at about 8.5 hours a night for me to feel rested. I feel like crap on my usual 7 hours.

Heather of PA @ Mar 08, 2009 22:19:53 PM

Sleep!

I hate not getting enough sleep. I need at least nine hours a night, but can function okay on eight. I also can't stand it when people brag that their success is due to the fact they don't need much sleep and that they get up at 4am each day or whatever. That's the middle of the night! I get up at 9.30 or 10, work till 7 (from home), then go to bed around midnight. Works for me!

Elma of CA @ Mar 05, 2009 14:05:56 PM

Insomnia

I have had sleeping problems since I was 24 years old. It seems my insomnia comes in cycles. I have periods of time when I sleep very well, even longer hours than what I really feel I need. Maybe I'm trying to compensate for all the hours of sleep I don't get during periods of insomnia. My worst case scenario was a period of five nights with no sleep. I ended up in the hospital for treatment, but unfortunately, I feel I was treated for the wrong problem. So all these years I have been doing my best to cope with my sleep problems on my own, until recently. My family doctor wrote a prescription for Ambien. I have tried the Ambien, which does help me sleep. Unfortunately, I always have a feeling like a hangover the next day and there have been some other side effects, like getting up and preparing something to eat and having only vague memories of that the following day. Obviously since I don't like the side effects, I have discontinued taking this medication. I am not saying it is not an effective medication, it is just not right for me. I liked these articles on insomnia and I do believe one's bedroom should be a restful place and that one should have quiet time before retiring. Also lying in bed thinking that bed rest helps has no benefits for me, because I know I could be doing something productive.

Catherine Hudson of SC @ Mar 05, 2009 11:27:32 AM

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You're taking a break from your job-hunting and job-hopping ways and have decided to stay put in your current position. Liz Wolgemuth’s careers blog will show you how to make the very best of your job, each day.

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