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How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?
Many Americans don’t get enough rest — but our needs differ by age and other factors
Gone are the glorious days of youth when a good, long sleep was the norm. For many of us, some serious self-care is now needed to ensure a sufficient snooze. Scientists have several sleep tricks up their sleeves, and I’ll get to those.
But first, let’s face it: If you’re a typical American, you probably don’t get enough shut-eye. Here’s the percentage of people who do not get enough sleep, according to the latest federal data:
- Children: 34.1%
- High schoolers: 74.6%
- Adults: 32.5%
Numbers don’t tell the whole story, though. Each person’s sleep needs vary significantly based on a few factors, including age and genetics. One thing we do know for sure is that too little sleep is really bad for you.
Why sleep is vital
While you sleep, your subconscious organizes and solidifies thoughts into long-term memories. Meanwhile, blood vessels surrounding your brain act like garbage collectors, clearing your dirty noggin of misshapen proteins and other junk that accumulates during the day and which, if left to build up at the curb of your brain, can clog the system and…
