Herbie Murray
Sleep is vital for the brain and body to function at their best, but it is possible to train yourself to need less sleep. Sleep expert Jim Horne says that the number of hours people need to sleep is flexible from person to person and that concerns about not getting enough sleep are often overblown. Horne's research shows that people can cut down their regular sleep to about six hours a night, plus a short nap during the day, as long as they do it gradually. However, when a person doesn't get enough sleep, their brain can't repair or build new pathways, making it more difficult to retain information, engage in complex thinking and stay focused. Sleep deficiency has also been linked to physical health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep is vital for the brain and body to function at their best | Sleep deficiency has been linked to physical health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease |
| People can cut down their regular sleep to about six hours a night, plus a short nap during the day | This can be done gradually |
| It is possible to train yourself to get by on less sleep | Focus on getting quality sleep rather than quantity |
| Optimise your sleep habits and routine | Avoid a large meal late in the evening, make time to think about worries before bed, avoid looking at screens right before you sleep |
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What You'll Learn
- You can't train yourself to need less sleep, but you can optimise your sleep habits and routine
- Sleep is vital for the brain and body to function at their best
- Sleep deficiency has been linked to physical health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease
- Gradually going to bed later might work for some people
- Making better use of your waking hours can help you thrive on less sleep
You can't train yourself to need less sleep, but you can optimise your sleep habits and routine
Sleep is vital for the brain and the body to function at their best. When a person doesn't get enough sleep, their brain can't repair or build new pathways, making it more difficult to retain information, engage in complex thinking and stay focused. Sleep deficiency has also been linked to physical health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease.
However, according to sleep expert Jim Horne, the number of hours people need to sleep is more flexible from person to person and concerns about not getting your nightly seven or eight hours are often overblown. Horne's research shows that people can cut down their regular sleep to about six hours a night, plus a short nap during the day, as long as they do it gradually. Horne suggests focusing on getting quality sleep rather than worrying about the quantity. Making better use of your waking hours is another way to thrive on less sleep. Try exercising in the afternoon, says Sigrid Veasey, a professor at the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
You can't change your genes and become a short sleeper, but you can optimise your sleep habits and routine. This isn't quite the same thing as training your body to need less sleep, but it is an effective way to make the most out of the sleep you get. It will also help you zero in on the exact amount of sleep you need in order to feel your best.
Tips for optimising your sleep include avoiding a large meal late in the evening, making time to think about worries before bed so you don't go to sleep stressed, avoiding looking at screens right before you sleep, and raising your body temperature and then cooling it down by bedtime, which will help you fall asleep more quickly and sleep more deeply through the night.
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Sleep is vital for the brain and body to function at their best
While it may be possible to train yourself to get by on less sleep, sleep expert Jim Horne says that concerns about not getting seven or eight hours a night are often overblown. Horne's research shows that people can cut down their regular sleep to about six hours a night, plus a short nap during the day, as long as they do it gradually. However, Horne says that if you feel sleepy during the day, six hours is probably not enough for you. Instead, he recommends focusing on getting quality sleep rather than worrying about the quantity.
You can also make better use of your waking hours by exercising in the afternoon, for example. Other tips for optimising your sleep include avoiding a large meal late in the evening, making time to think about worries before bed so you don't go to sleep stressed, and avoiding looking at screens right before you sleep.
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Sleep deficiency has been linked to physical health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease
Sleep is vital for the brain and the body to function at their best. When a person doesn't get enough sleep, their brain can't repair or build new pathways, making it more difficult to retain information, engage in complex thinking and stay focused. Sleep deficiency has also been linked to physical health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease.
While it is not possible to change your genes and become a short sleeper, it may be possible to train yourself to get by on less sleep. Sleep expert Jim Horne argues that the number of hours people need to sleep is more flexible from person to person and that concerns about not getting your nightly seven or eight hours are often overblown. Horne's research shows that people can cut down their regular sleep to about six hours a night, plus a short nap during the day, as long as they do it gradually. However, Horne says he wouldn't recommend this for people who already feel like their sleep time is constricted. Instead, he says, focus on getting quality sleep rather than worrying about the quantity.
There are ways to optimise your sleep habits and routine to make the most out of the sleep you get. This will help you zero in on the exact amount of sleep you need in order to feel your best. Tips for optimising your sleep include avoiding a large meal late in the evening, making time to think about worries before bed so you don't go to sleep stressed, avoiding looking at screens right before you sleep, and raising your body temperature before bedtime so that it cools down when you're ready to sleep, helping you fall asleep more quickly and sleep more deeply.
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Gradually going to bed later might work for some people
While it is not possible to train your body to need less sleep, you can optimise your sleep habits and routine to make the most of the sleep you get. Sleep expert Jim Horne says that the number of hours people need to sleep is flexible from person to person, and that concerns about not getting seven or eight hours are often overblown. Horne's research shows that people can cut down their regular sleep to about six hours a night, plus a short nap during the day, as long as they do it gradually. Horne does not recommend this for people who already feel like their sleep time is constricted. Instead, he suggests focusing on getting quality sleep rather than worrying about the quantity.
To make the most of your sleep, try to make better use of your waking hours. For example, exercising in the afternoon can help you sleep better. You can also try to avoid a large meal late in the evening, make time to think about worries before bed, and avoid looking at screens right before you sleep. This will help you fall asleep more quickly and sleep more deeply.
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Making better use of your waking hours can help you thrive on less sleep
While it's not possible to change your genes and become a short sleeper, you can train yourself to need less sleep by optimising your sleep habits and routine. According to sleep expert Jim Horne, the number of hours people need to sleep is flexible from person to person. Horne's research shows that people can cut down their regular sleep to about six hours a night, plus a short nap during the day, as long as they do it gradually. However, Horne does not recommend this for people who already feel like their sleep time is constricted. Instead, he suggests focusing on getting quality sleep rather than worrying about the quantity.
One way to make better use of your waking hours is to exercise in the afternoon, according to Sigrid Veasey, a professor at the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Other tips for optimising your sleep include avoiding a large meal late in the evening, making time to think about worries before bed so you don't go to sleep stressed, and avoiding looking at screens right before you sleep.
It's important to note that sleep is vital for the brain and body to function at their best. When a person doesn't get enough sleep, their brain can't repair or build new pathways, making it more difficult to retain information, engage in complex thinking, and stay focused. Sleep deficiency has also been linked to physical health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
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Frequently asked questions
No, sleep is vital for the brain and body to function at their best. However, you can train yourself to need less sleep.
Sleep expert Jim Horne says that people can cut down their regular sleep to about six hours a night, plus a short nap during the day, as long as they do it gradually. Horne also recommends focusing on getting quality sleep rather than worrying about the quantity.
Avoid a large meal late in the evening, make time to think about worries before bed so you don’t go to sleep stressed, avoid looking at screens right before you sleep, and exercise in the afternoon.
Yes, sleep deficiency has been linked to physical health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. It can also make it more difficult to retain information, engage in complex thinking and stay focused.
