The ability to live a life without the need for sleep would be a sought-after superpower that many people would love to have.

Really, who doesn't wish they had more hours in the day to complete their obligations and enjoy some quality free time?

In reality, however, insufficient sleep has many short-term and long-term consequences, from increased stress and moodiness to an increased risk of heart disease and even premature death.

Given how detrimental a lack of sleep can be to our health, it's no wonder why more and more people are turning to sleep aids, like gravity blankets, to help them sleep better at night.

But in your effort to get quality sleep at night, you may wonder: How many hours of sleep do I really need?

Although the answer to how much sleep we should get is not the same for everyone, there are some useful guidelines that can help you understand how many hours of sleep you need to stay healthy and fully functional.

In this article we will analyze some of the factors that determine how many hours of sleep a person needs to function best in their daily lives and ways to improve the quality of their sleep.

How many hours of sleep do you need each night?

Many of us grew up believing that we all need eight hours of sleep every night. But as it turns out, that's not entirely true. In fact, our sleep needs change as we age.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , see below how many hours a person should sleep based on their age:

• 0 to 3 months: 14 to 17 hours
• 4 to 12 months: 12 to 16 hours
• 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours
• 3 to 5 years old: 10 to 13 hours
• 6 to 12 years old: 9 to 12 hours
• 13 to 18 years old: 8 to 10 hours
• 18 to 60 years old: 7 or more hours
• 61 to 64 years old: 7 to 9 hours
• 65 years and older: 7 to 8 hours

So, based on the above numbers, you should also base your sleep needs, right? No! The above chart simply gives us a useful starting point to determine our sleep needs, however it may not be accurate for everyone.

What is the reason?

When we sleep, the brain goes through various stages of Non-REM and REM sleep. For most people, each cycle lasts about 90 minutes, however some people's sleep cycles are shorter or longer.

This is why some people can get by on fewer hours of sleep, while others need much more sleep to avoid the cognitive problems commonly associated with insufficient sleep.

Signs that you are sleeping too much/too little

Sleep is a vital function for all living things, but as with most things in life, it's best to have a measure of how much we sleep.

In fact, one study found that both those who slept too little and those who slept too much in the evenings had a greater decline in cognitive function than people who got the recommended amount of sleep based on their age.

So, how do you know if you're getting enough sleep at night? Here are some signs that may indicate you're getting too much or too little sleep:

• Memory problems
• Feeling tired during the day
• Low productivity
• Mood swings
• Anxiety symptoms
• Increased appetite

How to improve your sleep?

Are you having trouble getting the recommended amount of sleep for your age? Here are some tips to help you achieve it.

• Stick to a consistent sleep schedule. Waking up and going to bed at the same time each day will help keep your circadian rhythm , your body's internal clock that tells you when it's time to rest and when you should be alert, in check. So make sure you stick to a consistent sleep schedule—even on the weekends.
• Avoid foods and drinks that disrupt sleep. Caffeine, alcohol, and heavy or spicy meals can disrupt your sleep, especially if you consume them a few hours before bedtime.
• Limit your exposure to blue light. Consider installing blackout curtains in your bedroom to block out street lights. Also, the blue light emitted by electronic devices can suppress the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, preventing you from feeling sleepy. Stay away from electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bed.
• Avoid long naps. Napping is a superpower that can boost our performance during the day. However, taking too long a nap can derail your nighttime sleep schedule and also have the opposite effect on your mood. To prevent this, try to take a 20 to 30 minute nap during the day.
• Keep your bedroom cool. Turn down the thermostat about an hour before bed. If you easily overheat in your sleep and sweat during the night, consider investing in breathable bedding, like the Gravity Ice cooling blanket that stays cool and wicks away moisture.
• See your doctor. If you've already made the changes above but are still concerned that you may be sleeping too much or too little, make an appointment with your doctor. They can help you with some measurements to rule out any underlying conditions that could be ruining your sleep.

What does research say about the gravity blanket? How can it improve your sleep?

Gravity blankets are the most effective way to deal with insomnia and stress without medication, as they have been used for many decades to help people suffering from anxiety disorders, autism , and other sensory disorders.

How do they work?

They weigh from 3 to 15 kilograms and are designed to exert a gentle and steady pressure on the entire body, which occupational therapists call “ Deep Tactile Pressure ”. This steady pressure relaxes the nervous system and helps the body naturally increase levels of serotonin and melatonin (the hormones of happiness and sleep) while reducing levels of cortisol, which is responsible for stress.

As a result, the mind stops "racing", the heart rate drops, the mood improves and the body enters a state of complete relaxation.

The positive effects on insomnia

According to research conducted on people suffering from chronic insomnia and other coexisting psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, or generalized anxiety disorder, using a gravity blanket for 4 weeks had the following results:

• reducing the time until they fall asleep
• longer duration of sleep during the night
• more energy during the day
• reduced symptoms of fatigue
• reduced levels of anxiety and depression

Less stress, more well-being

Another study showed that using a gravity blanket reduced blood pressure and pulse oximetry, signs that indicate low stress levels.

More specifically:

• 63% reported feeling less stressed
• 78% preferred the gravity blanket for stress relief over any other option

The feeling of embrace that the gravity blanket has due to its weight - and therefore the effect of this feeling on the body - is an excellent way to release hormones such as serotonin and oxytocin (hormones of happiness and love), regulate cortisol levels in the body (the stress hormone) resulting in the person feeling "grounded" and relaxed.

Many users report that the gravity blanket works great when they feel nervous or insecure as it acts like a "cocoon" within which they feel safe. 

So the next time you feel stressed or nervous, try using a gravity blanket to relax and reduce the intensity of these feelings.

Choose the one that weighs closest to 10% of your body weight and upgrade your sleep from the very first night.

Epilogue

So, how much sleep do you really need?

It all depends on age and genetics. Some people can get by on less than the recommended amount of sleep for their age, while others need more sleep to function properly. The best way to determine your ideal amount of sleep is through self-assessment. Start with the recommended amount based on your age and then experiment with increasing or decreasing the hours until you find the sweet spot for you.

Are you ready to take your sleep to the next level? Start enjoying deep, uninterrupted sleep every night with a gravity blanket .