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How much sleep do you need? And how much do you get?

August 16, 2009 by Susan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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If you saw my Facebook updates last night, you know I pulled another all-nighter to meet a writing deadline.

(If you’re curious it was for my gig at Scott Common Sense. The posts I was writing won’t be published until September, but you can read my earlier posts there. )

I went to bed at about 6:30 am and slept for an hour before the kids woke up. Fortunately my husband was home and he managed to keep them out of the room for a few hours. And then I had a wonderful snuggle-sleep nap with my baby Sophia.

But it didn’t quite make up for an undisturbed 8 hours of sleep. LOL

The funny thing is working all night and catching up a few hours of sleep in the morning is rather routine for me. And the not so funny thing (for my body anyway) is that I’m the type of person who thrives on 9 or even 10 hours of sleep. Yeah, right! What a joke, isn’t it? I basically haven’t had that for the last 5 years.

But I’m a night owl and I love working in the peace and quiet after everyone else is asleep. So I constantly push myself to crazy extremes and play catch up later, if I can.

Before Sophia was born, and I had only Julia and no child-care, I would often work until 2 or even 4 am and then co-sleep with her for a few hours, then get up for the day and then have a snuggly co-sleeping nap with her in the afternoon. So my sleep was broken into two blocks. Now that I have two girls, and child-care during the work week, my routine is different and I do try to sleep at night and work in the day… but so very often I end up working until late into the night and then having to steal a couple hours of sleep in the morning.

So I’m wondering… am I alone? Do you stay up late to blog or work? If so, do you make up for it with a nap or do you just suffer through? How much sleep do you need? And how much do you actually get?

(And I suppose I better get to bed soon since it’s 12:45 am and I do NOT get to sleep in tomorrow and those precious girls of mine insist on waking up early.)

Written by Susan, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
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Susan Carraretto and her identical twin, Janice Croze, created 5 Minutes for Mom in 2006. Susan loves all social media, but her top addiction these days is Pinterest.

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29 Comments

  1. Rachel says

    August 18, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    I SERIOUSLY do not know how you do that. I literally get sick if I don’t get enough sleep – I very nearly got sick after Blogher due to lack of sleep. I could never be you. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    August 18, 2009 at 12:57 am

    I typically get about 7 hours of sleep. I go to bed around 1 a.m. on most nights and wake up around 8:00 a.m. (when my girls wake up). I think it would probably be ideal if I got to bed around midnight instead of 1, but it’s so hard to commit to that because there is always just one more e-mail to reply to, one more post to write, one more thing to clean up, etc…

    Reply
  3. Angel says

    August 17, 2009 at 4:00 pm

    I can’t imagine staying up all night! I think it’s hard enough with a newborn. He’s almost four months old and I still am awake several times throughout the night; although, it’s better now that he sleeps with my husband and me.

    Reply
  4. Laura says

    August 17, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    I need my sleep. I’ve written a post about it here.

    Reply
  5. Bradi Nathan says

    August 17, 2009 at 9:44 am

    You can call me anytime at 12am and I’ll be up! It’s when I get my best work done!

    Reply
  6. Grace says

    August 17, 2009 at 3:48 am

    I work full time outside my home so I do most of my blogging and other online activities at work. (Please don’t tell my boss)

    I don’t go online at home (I reach home at 7pm) and spend all of my time with my daughter. We have no TV so most of our time is spent eating dinner together, reading books & shower. We usually sleep before 10 pm and wakeup at 6am. I can’t stay up too late at night since I am a morning person. I’d rather sleep early and wake up early than stay up late. But I guess it’s because I am not used to being a night owl like you and Janice.

    Reply
  7. Adventures In Babywearing says

    August 16, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    Sometimes staying up late is the ONLY time I have all to myself. So I am often tempted to stay up until my eyes can’t stay open any longer and I risk regretting it the next day. But last week when I was sick I was forced to go to bed early several nights in a row and I felt SO much better because of it. I am hoping with school starting that I can get on a better routine for day and night!

    Steph

    Reply
  8. Susan says

    August 16, 2009 at 6:28 pm

    Well, I guess I’m not alone. LOL

    I agree that keeping such late hours and depriving ourselves of sleep is terrible for our health and not to mention our moods. It’s hard to not be cranky when you’re exhausted.

    I’m so tired today and dreaming of a nap. When Rob gets home from golf, I’m going to sneak in a nap.

    Reply
  9. Jennifer, Snapshot says

    August 16, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    Great post — great response!

    I do best with at least 7 hours of sleep, and I’m not the type to stay up late to cram. Even when I have stuff to do, I end up giving up and going to sleep. I was even that way in college!

    When I need to work, I do best to wake up early, but I’m not always disciplined enough to do so.

    So the answer is that I need about 7, and I end up getting — or taking! — that much every night.

    Reply
  10. Elizabeth Mahlou says

    August 16, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    Oh, yes, I do that, but is very unhealthy — and the older I get, the more my body makes me aware of that. Less sleep = more wrinkles, more weight, and I really don’t like either of those, plus the cranky feeling that I have to hide at work. One way I managed with on book that had a one-month deadline (ouch! a result of procrastination…) was to take a month off from work. I wrote in the early mornings, revised the previous day’s print-outs (am pretty old-fashioned in still needing to work with paper, poor trees!) in the afternoons, slept in the evening, 8 hours to each task, then started all over again. It worked. After one month, I had completed all 400 pages of the book, and it was in readers’ hands 6 months later, thanks to a very diligent and interested publisher.

    Reply
  11. Veggiemomof2 says

    August 16, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    If I don’t get 8 hours sleep, I do have to suppliment it with a nap. Otherwise my body will take a nap too late in the day & start a vicious cycle of messed up sleep patterns.

    Reply
  12. Stacey says

    August 16, 2009 at 3:16 pm

    I have ALWAYS been a late-night girl, even as a teenager. Now as a mom of 5, late hours are the only time I feel like my mind can clear to see what needs to be done. I find the silence addicting! I probaby average 6hrs a night, and I rarely get to “make up” for it. For me, though, I’ve had to realize that the little sleep has actually messed with my metabolism quite a bit. When I sleep more, I’m generally in better all around health. And since I’m trying really hard to get fit right now, I need to curb the burning of the midnight oil!

    Reply
  13. Becky says

    August 16, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    Wow, I’m right there with you! even as a SAHM. Needing sleep, but not getting it!
    Until my late 20s working as a CPA, I could get by on little to no sleep–often staying up till 3AM or so, always packing way more “extra- curriculars” into my life than was possible to accomplish. But pregnancy (and now that I’m in my 30s–maybe old age!! Ha, ha!) slowed me down and I have to sleep more . . .
    I have a 2yo, 1yo, and I’m in the 1st trimester of my 3rd pregnancy, so I definitely need the sleep. With two mobile toddlers, I feel like I get little to nothing done (aside from making meals and keeping up on dishes) while they are awake. Naptime and nighttime are my housework and computer times. . . Lately I’ve been going to bed between 12 – 1A. The kids get up between 6-7A. I usually get about six hours of sleep, but I never feel rested, and I could always fall asleep again if I laid back down.
    With pregnancy, I’m often napping about 45 minutes during their afternoon nap. . . They are in bed by 8 p.m.
    Crazy . . . I think as the kids get older it might get better???? but who knows what we’ll have going on then?!

    Reply
  14. Teresa says

    August 16, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    Like so many of the previous commenters I too tend to stay up too late. I’ve never conciously tried to figure out how much sleep my body “needs” but I’m going to guess at least 7 hours a night. When I do stay up late, usually 2ish, I rarely, almost never, take a nap the next day. If I do nap the next day it’s usually because my body is getting ready to sock me with a cold or sinus infection anyway.

    I know that although I love the peace and quiet after kiddos bedtime, I’m going to have to force myself to bed earlier.

    Reply
  15. Bailey's Leaf says

    August 16, 2009 at 2:30 pm

    I find that I require 8 hours of sleep to be at my best. When I was blogging until 11:00 – 11:30 PM or later, I found that not only did I have trouble falling to sleep, but that my sleep was not quality sleep. I would wake in the middle of the night and be awake for an hour or two. Since I’ve given myself the time deadline of 10:30 PM or earlier, it has really made a difference. I’ve given my brain enough time to shut down and I don’t wake in the middle of the night anymore. Well, that is a lie. K- had some nasty funk last week that turned out to be night-long puking sessions. In that case, caffeine was my friend.

    Reply
  16. Mindy says

    August 16, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    You are definitely not alone, girl. I stay up into the early morn (sometimes 4ish) blogging, catching up on work (editing photos from my recent photoshoots) placing orders, etc. I would rather do this during the day but most of the time, it’s just not possible. I, too prefer the peace and quietness of the night when everyone else in the house is sleeping. Besides that I can sneak candy without having to share with the kids. 😉 I would love 12 hours of sleep a few nights a week.. but when would everything get done?! bwah!

    Reply
  17. Deb - Mom of 3 Girls says

    August 16, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    I’m very similar to you – in terms of sleep. I really need a good 9 to 10 hours on a regular basis to feel totally rested, but rarely get anywhere close to that. I am a complete night owl and love to stay up late to work in the peace and quiet. I’m usually blogging anywhere from 11pm to 3am on a regular basis – and feeling tired all day. I try to catch up when I can, but it’s never enough. I’m going to have to make myself go to sleep earlier once school starts again though. 7am is going to come way too early… 😉

    Reply
  18. forgetfulone says

    August 16, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    I could have written this:
    But I’m a night owl and I love working in the peace and quiet after everyone else is asleep. So I constantly push myself to crazy extremes and play catch up later, if I can.

    It’s exactly me, night owl, and the alone time I cherish at night that keeps me from getting my much-needed sleep. I’m lucky to get 7. It’s usually less. There have been many nights of 4 or 5 hours’ sleep. But I love to sleep! I’m always tired.

    Reply
  19. Tarasview says

    August 16, 2009 at 11:52 am

    I need waaayyy more sleep than I get- that is for sure!! I haven’t slept through the night even once since my first child was born over 7 years ago!!

    I think my body would prefer a good 9 hours per night… but that is just not going to happen anytime soon!

    I totally stay up late to get my blog/review stuff done! Plus I feel like I really need that kid-free time. I co-sleep as well so I often end up laying down with my daughter and falling asleep accidentally! Guess that is just God’s way of telling me sleep is more important in that moment 🙂

    Reply
  20. Donna~Blessed Nest says

    August 16, 2009 at 11:30 am

    You’re not alone. I am a night owl and I love the quiet at night. I do my best work at night and so does my business partner Heather. We have a morning conference call at 8:00am. So I know I have to go to bed so I can be somewhat awake for it. That helps with accountability somewhat. You can find Heather sewing until 6:00am at times….her creative juices and deadlines seem to go that direction.I do get about 7 hours sleep. I home school and let my girls sleep in so we all are happy and productive during the day. No room for naps but I do remember when they were infants and toddles. Chunks of sleep only for this Momma!

    Reply
  21. Amy says

    August 16, 2009 at 10:52 am

    No way, girl. 😉 Actually, I probably stay up later than I should, but my health and happiness (which is quite related to how much sleep I get!) is much more important to me and my family than any blog work or other late-night activity.

    I gotta have my sleep and my kiddos gotta have their mama. 🙂

    Reply
  22. owlhaven says

    August 16, 2009 at 10:34 am

    I often stay up til 1, occasionally 2, and get up between 7 and 8. I do better, mood wise if I get to bed by midnight. 7 hours of sleep is definitely better than 5 for me. But like you I crave the quiet night.
    Mary, mom to many

    Reply
  23. se7en says

    August 16, 2009 at 9:58 am

    Great post topic “The evolution of the sleep deprived mother”. Through all my years as a student I was in bed by 10pm. Then we had a couple of kids and I stretched my day till mid-night. Then I started blogging and suddenly it was quite normal to go to bed at 4am (blimey that can’t be good!). But now I am more than a couple of months pregnant and I have to be in bed by 2 am for survival. It is winter here and dark in the mornings so my kids routinely sleep till 8am, very civilized of them, I daresay!!! I think bloggers are leading the way in sleep deprivation, we just can’t keep away from our screens!

    Reply
  24. brandy says

    August 16, 2009 at 9:47 am

    i usually get around 6 hours. i don’t blog late. i usually have my kids on my lap when i’m blogging.

    Reply
  25. Carrie F. says

    August 16, 2009 at 9:36 am

    I’m a night owl too but I have trained my body that I can’t do what I used to and I can usually sleep by midnight or so before getting up at 6. If I am up later than that working on a school project or just up, which being bipolar does that sometimes, then I will try to catch an extra hour by not getting up with my husband, then take a nap later in the day. All three are in school so once I’m home from classes it’s pretty easy to grab a nap.

    Reply
  26. Heather H says

    August 16, 2009 at 9:21 am

    Oh, dear. Sleep is a MUST for me. It’s a non-negotiable. I cannot function my best if I have not slept – or attempted to sleep – well. There are already disturbances during the night with little ones, and not to mention the drain of taking care of them during the day – even though I know there are things I would like to be doing for myself during the night hours, sleep is a priority for me. I actually call it a “primary food” because it is primary for me to me healthy. Sweet dreams. 🙂

    Reply
  27. angie says

    August 16, 2009 at 8:24 am

    I no longer stay up late at night as I did this for 15 years working doubles as a nurse. I would get little to no sleep for nearly 15 years i averaged 4 hours a night. This was never enough so now days 11 pm calls my name and I am in bed. My children are all now teens or better and I can now rest unless something happens during the night (rare but sometimes) that wakes me up

    Reply
  28. Melissa says

    August 16, 2009 at 7:28 am

    you are definitely not alone. I stay up really late myself for a variety of reasons – work (reading police reports etc.), playing video games, reading for fun, blogging, surfing the net. You name it. And lately, I’ve been doing it more and more often because my son hasn’t been going to bed until pretty late at night. So the short answer is no you’re not alone.

    Reply

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