For as long as I can remember, I’ve only needed about 4 hours of sleep each day. I haven’t noticed any adverse effects from this sleeping pattern. Is there anyone else who sleeps similarly without any negative consequences? I’m constantly reading about the risks of insufficient sleep, but personally, I haven’t experienced any drawbacks.
While building my business, I often find myself sleeping just 4 hours a night, from 1am to 5am. If I’m not careful, this can lead to burnout by the end of the week.
Winter said:
While building my business, I often find myself sleeping just 4 hours a night, from 1am to 5am. If I’m not careful, this can lead to burnout by the end of the week.
That’s my exact sleep schedule too!
Do you naturally wake up after 4 hours, or do you set an alarm? I can’t imagine it not affecting you at all. It might be interesting for you to try sleeping 8 hours one night. You could feel like a completely different person.
@Wilder
My body just naturally wakes up after 4 hours, always refreshed. I’ve tried to extend my sleep but always end up waking at the same time. Considering a sleep study because it’s so unusual. But it gives me extra time for daily tasks, so I’m not complaining!
@Aza
It’s almost like a superpower to consistently function on so little sleep. My dad is a firefighter, so I know it’s possible for short periods, but doing it every night is impressive.
@Aza
You’re lucky to be able to function well on so little sleep!
Sounds like you’re one of the lucky few who can function just as well on minimal sleep. That’s an enviable ability!
I’m a chronic insomniac, typically getting only about 4 hours of sleep from 5am to 9am.
Davi said:
I’m a chronic insomniac, typically getting only about 4 hours of sleep from 5am to 9am.
So we both experience long wakeful periods and have similar short sleep windows. It’s not too far off!
@Aza
Yep, 5am to 9am is definitely just 4 hours. Didn’t think I needed to specify ‘am’ there!
Davi said:
@Aza
Yep, 5am to 9am is definitely just 4 hours. Didn’t think I needed to specify ‘am’ there!
Right, we’re both awake for about 20 hours a day. It’s quite a stretch!
That’s incredible. I need about 10 hours of sleep myself.
I’m quite envious of your ability to manage on so little sleep!
Ky said:
I used to sleep very little and relied on diphenhydramine to help. I don’t recommend it, and now I naturally sleep between 5.5 and 7.5 hours.
It’s rare to see Benadryl referred to by its chemical name.
Ky said:
I used to sleep very little and relied on diphenhydramine to help. I don’t recommend it, and now I naturally sleep between 5.5 and 7.5 hours.
Why try to suppress it? If it comes naturally, it might be a gift.
I can relate to that sleep pattern.
You might be one of the rare ‘super sleepers’ who don’t experience the typical consequences of short sleep durations. It’s fascinating how different our sleep needs can be.
If I’m lucky, I get about 4 hours. I can go up to three days without sleep, then crash for a few hours.