Dr. Dario Dornbierer 14 mins read 16 Nov 2022

How you need less sleep: 10 tips to stay healthy and alert

Wie Du weniger Schlaf brauchst: 10 Tipps, um gesund und munter zu bleiben

No matter how much you swear by your sleep, sometimes you have to make do with fewer hours. There are many reasons: small children, a pressing deadline, exams, an early morning trip. But it could also be a side job that takes up your time or an exciting new project that you are devoting yourself to. Reducing your sleep time can be a challenge, and in no way do we want to advocate in this article that you should live with sleep deprivation.

On the contrary, the human body needs enough sleep to function properly. So before you skimp on sleep, think carefully about whether it's worth it. You can't always juggle everything.

Now that we've got that out of the way, let's look at some ways you can gradually get your body used to getting by on less sleep. The best way to do this is to set a sleep schedule.

In this article, we'll look at why you want to sleep less and whether you can train your body to sleep less. We'll also look at how much sleep you actually need and what health consequences less sleep can have. Finally, we'll give you a few tips on how to get by on less sleep and what you can do if you have trouble waking up in the morning.

REDUCE SLEEP TIME: HOW MUCH SLEEP DOES A PERSON NEED?

Most people need about eight hours of sleep a night—some more, some less. Older adults, for example, need less sleep than teenagers. How much sleep you personally need depends on a number of factors, including your age, lifestyle, general health, and whether you're pregnant.

HOW MUCH SLEEP DO YOU NEED?

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per day.

Newborns: Newborns typically sleep 16 to 18 hours a day.

Toddlers: Infants typically sleep 14 to 15 hours a day.

Toddlers: Toddlers typically sleep 12 to 13 hours a day.

Preschool children: Preschool children sleep about 11 to 12 hours a day.

School-age children: School-age children typically sleep 10 to 11 hours a day.

Teenagers: Teenagers sleep about 9 to 10 hours a day.

Adults: Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day.

Older adults: Older adults typically sleep 7 to 8 hours a day.

How much sleep do athletes need?

Depending on the intensity and duration of training, athletes need more sleep than the average population. Long-distance runners need about 9 to 10 hours per night, while sprinters only need 8 hours.

How much sleep do pregnant women need?

Pregnant women usually need more sleep than before pregnancy. This is due to the physical and emotional changes they go through during pregnancy.

Most pregnant women need about 9 hours of sleep per night.

WHY DO WE NEED TO SLEEP?

There are several reasons why sleep is important for our health:

The body regenerates during sleep: During sleep, our body produces hormones that help repair cells and tissues.

Sleep regulates mood: lack of sleep can lead to irritability and moodiness.

Sleep strengthens the immune system: Sleep helps fight off infections and diseases.

Sleep fills our energy tank: Sleep provides our body with the energy it needs to function properly during the day.

Sufficient sleep promotes focus and concentration: Sleep helps improve our attention span and concentration during the day.

A reduction in sleep duration can therefore have a negative impact on our health. Let's take a closer look at some of these consequences.

THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF SLEEP LACK

There are several health consequences associated with not getting enough sleep. These include:

Weight gain: Studies suggest that people who sleep less are at greater risk of becoming overweight or obese.

Diabetes: Not getting enough sleep can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Heart disease: Lack of sleep can lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease.

Stroke: Not getting enough sleep can increase the risk of stroke.

Mental health problems: Lack of sleep can cause or worsen anxiety and depression.

Impaired judgment: Lack of sleep can impair decision-making and problem-solving.

As you can see, there are many reasons why you shouldn't intentionally sleep less.

FOUR REASONS FOR LESS SLEEP AND FOUR REASONS AGAINST IT

There are many reasons why you might want to reduce your sleep. Four of them could be:

You have too much to do and not enough time to sleep: This is a common reason why people sleep less. They feel like they have too much to do and not enough time to sleep. However, this can lead to problems such as impaired judgment, poorer decision-making and increased stress levels.

You want to sleep less so you can stay out later: Some people sleep less so they can stay up and party later. However, this can lead to problems such as dehydration, sleep deprivation and, last but not least, a hangover. It is not advisable to sacrifice valuable sleep for this.

You want to sleep less so you can watch more TV: Some people sleep less so they can stay up late and watch something special on TV, like the season finale. This can be a problem especially for those who watch live US sporting events like WWE, UFC or the NFL. Sleep deprivation is inevitable. It's important to find a balance between sleep and TV time. 

You want to sleep less so you can work more: Sleeping less to work more can cause problems. It is important to find a balance between work and sleep. It would be helpful if you also took breaks during the day to rest and relax. Although some people have to work extra hours due to obligations at their job or for financial reasons, it is important not to work to the point of sleep deprivation.

Now let's look at the reasons why reducing sleep time is not a good idea. These include:

You need sleep to function properly: As we have seen, sleep is important for our health and well-being. It helps to regenerate and repair our bodies, regulate our mood, strengthen our immune system and increase our energy levels.

You need sleep to avoid health problems: As discussed earlier, not getting enough sleep can lead to various health problems, such as weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, mental health problems, and impaired judgment.

You need sleep to be productive: Sleep is important for productivity. It helps us to focus and concentrate. If we can no longer concentrate, it can lead to mistakes and accidents, which can sometimes have legal consequences.

You need sleep to feel good: Sleep is important for our emotional well-being. It helps us feel rested and refreshed. Mental health is often overlooked when it comes to sleep, but it is essential for physical health.

HOW TO MAKE LESS SLEEP – TEN TIPS

There are many things you can do to cope with less sleep. These include:

1. Develop a solid evening routine

This means going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. This helps regulate your body's sleep cycle. This routine is important because it helps you feel less tired during the day. Adjust your schedule a little each day until you reach your sleep goal.

For those who want to sleep less, committing to a consistent routine can be one of the biggest challenges. Often, setting an alarm for both waking up and going to bed can help.

2. Consume caffeine consciously

Caffeine is a stimulant and can make it difficult to fall asleep. You should avoid it in the hours before bedtime. It is best to drink your coffee only in the morning, a few hours after waking up. At this time, your energy levels drop and your body still has enough time to metabolize the caffeine before evening falls.

You may think that you need to consume more caffeine to get by on less sleep. However, this will only cause you to crash after the initial caffeine rush and feel even more tired. So if you want to sleep less, try limiting your coffee consumption to one cup a day and avoid energy drinks and the like. In the beginning, you can also replace the second cup of coffee with tea, which contains fewer stimulants. Again, make sure not to have the last caffeinated drink after 3 p.m.

If you're more of an "all or nothing" type, you might think that cutting out caffeine altogether would be the best thing to do. We don't recommend this, especially if you've been drinking a lot of coffee. Otherwise, you'll experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches and irritability. It's better to drink caffeinated beverages in moderation and at the right times, and wean yourself off gradually.

3. Soak up sunlight

Sunlight helps us wake up (and stay awake) and can give us a much-needed energy boost. Try to get some sunlight first thing in the morning and again throughout the day. This will help keep your energy levels steady.

This will mean you will need less sleep and will also benefit from other positive effects, such as a better mood.

4. Take breaks

Sitting for long periods of time can make us feel tired and sluggish. Make sure you take regular breaks throughout the day, move around and stretch your legs. This will help get your circulation going and provide energy.

5. Do sports

Exercise is a great way to stay awake and alert during the day. Exercising in the morning gives you a boost of energy and helps you concentrate better. If possible, you should exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. Exercise is also good for your health in general.

Some quick exercises you can easily do during a break are:

  • Jumping Jack
  • Squats
  • Push-ups
  • Sit-ups
  • run on the spot

As you can see, you can't go wrong with exercise. If you're looking for ways to sleep less, exercise should definitely be part of your strategy.

6. Healthy diet

Eating sugary snacks or processed foods can make us feel tired. Instead, try eating healthy meals that are high in protein and complex carbohydrates. These will give you sustained energy throughout the day.

Healthy foods that provide energy are:

  • Oats
  • Bananas
  • Eggs
  • Chicken
  • Leafy vegetables

It can be difficult to get better sleep for less money, so it's important to maintain your overall health. Eating right is an important part of that, so if you want to know how to sleep less, make sure you're eating the right things.

7. Drink plenty of water

Dehydration can make us tired, so you should drink at least eight glasses of water throughout the day, and more if possible. Drinking enough has numerous health benefits.

It's especially important to drink enough when you're sleep deprived. Take a water bottle with you when you leave the house and set reminders to drink. Alternatively, you can use a hydration app to help you keep track of your fluid intake.

8. Take power naps

A short nap can be very helpful in getting through the day after a short night. The so-called power naps help you concentrate better and recharge your energy reserves. However, make sure to keep the nap short so that you don't feel even more tired when you wake up.

The best time to take a nap is early afternoon. Around 2pm, your natural energy levels start to drop.

9. Make activities varied

Keeping your mind alert and active is an essential part of getting by on less sleep. Since boredom can lead to fatigue, it's important to keep your day varied.

Some things you can do to stay awake and avoid boredom include:

  • Working on different tasks
  • Take breaks for a short walk
  • Listen to music or podcasts
  • Chatting with colleagues
  • Get some fresh air

If you want to sleep better for less money, it's important to keep your mind active to avoid boredom and exhaustion.

10. Consider dietary supplements

Various nutritional supplements can help improve your concentration and maintain energy reserves, allowing you to get by with less sleep.

Some supplements that can help you are:

  • caffeine
  • Creatine
  • zinc
  • iron
  • B vitamins

If you're looking for ways to reduce your sleep, supplements may be helpful. Talk to your doctor before choosing a supplement. They may interact with other medications you're already taking.

WHAT IF YOU DON’T FEEL RESTED IN THE MORNING?

One of the biggest challenges of getting by on less sleep is feeling rested in the morning. This can be difficult, even if you've followed our tips up to this point.

So what's the secret tip? If you ask us, waking up is the key. This is where B・SYNC ON comes into play.

B・SYNC ON is an innovative delayed-release capsule that helps you wake up rather than fall asleep. The capsules are clinically tested and contain only four natural ingredients that make waking up easier and provide more energy throughout the day.

CONCLUSION: BETTER SLEEP FOR LESS MONEY

If you want to get by on less sleep, there are several ways to achieve your goal. One safe way is to change your lifestyle, such as drinking less coffee, exercising regularly and establishing a fixed evening routine. However, we advise against depriving your body of a large amount of sleep on a permanent basis. Chronic sleep deprivation is bad for your health and can lead to serious consequences. Make sure that your methods are safe and discuss your approach with a doctor.

FAQ

Can you train your body to sleep less?

Yes, it is possible to get by on less sleep. However, it is important to make the change safely. By this we mean that you should not sleep less than your body needs on a permanent basis. Otherwise, it can lead to serious health problems.

How long should I reduce my sleep time?

It is best to reduce your sleep time only for a short period of time. If you feel like you are sleeping too much and want to reduce your sleep time, talk to a doctor.

What are the risks associated with less sleep?

There are many risks associated with lack of sleep, such as impaired judgment, mood swings, and an increased risk of accidents. Lack of sleep can also lead to serious health conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

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