https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:37:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1740295 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 10:33:05 +0000 sarac 1740295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've gone from being pretty high sleep needing to about average. 7 hours is fine, more than that is awesome. I used to need nine to function. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1740270 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 08:49:07 +0000 Snowdrop 1740270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be careful as plenty of studies have shown a conection between less sleep and more chronic health problems. These studies dont show cause and effect though and ots possible that there are additional factors involved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1740262 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 08:42:51 +0000 Sparkler 1740262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to get 10 pre-kids and now am good with 7. In the newborn days, I was okay with 6. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1740205 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 07:58:42 +0000 farawayyama 1740205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A couple of years ago I had a serious bout of insomnia, where I just stopped sleeping. It got to the point that 3 hours was a great night, and some nights I'd get nothing whatsoever. Even once I was on drugs, I'd get 3 hours of solid sleep then maybe, if I was very lucky, another 2 (NEVER 5 all at once though).</p> <p>Eventually I ended up with a brilliant doctor who was able to work with some different drugs + melatonin to get me to 6 1/2 hours per night, and we gradually weaned off those until I was once again able to get 7-8 hours per night on my own.</p> <p>What astounded me was how quickly my body adapted. Don't get me wrong, my cognitive function wasn't there the way I was used to, but I was still able to do my job and somewhat function. I could ONLY do my job. even cooking was too taxing, but ultimately I didn't miss a single class or deadline, until I had to take medical leave. Even on the nights that I didn't sleep (maybe once every 1-2 weeks), I could still function, even though it was HARD. When I finally got the right combination fo drugs I slept for 6 1/2 hours solid, and it was miraculous, which I found also odd because prior to having insomnia, anything under 7 1/2 hours just wasn't enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1740068 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 02:10:54 +0000 Running Elley 1740068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've adjusted. I used to need at least (!!!) 8 hours of sleep to function like normal . I average 6 or less now and usually I'm just fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1740048 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 01:03:02 +0000 mamimami 1740048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have definitely adjusted but I think it has aged me quite a bit :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1740003 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 23:23:40 +0000 birdofafeather 1740003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>when i was in college, i felt like i rarely slept! i stayed up late, worked early at a coffee shop or had early (8 am!) classes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1740000 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 23:19:06 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1740000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also am a high sleep needs person but since I started working from home I rarely get more than I've hours a night. Aside from the headaches, I feel like I'm getting used to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739999 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 23:16:22 +0000 Mamatang 1739999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get the worse canker sores as well when I don't have enough sleep! I used to sleep around 6 hrs/day and was fine because they were uninterrupted... But now even though I get the same amount with interruption it's just not the same... How I wish I can just sleep quietly for 6 hrs! But according to my mom those days will never come back again... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739855 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 21:39:02 +0000 Synchronicity 1739855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I also get cankers when I'm stressed and being unkind to myself! Boo, they suck. </p> <p>My mom has serious sleep issues, and on a good night she gets 5 hours. She is so used to it after years of sleeping like this that you wouldn't know how little she actually sleeps. I do think it is having an effect on her general health, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739828 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 21:26:02 +0000 .twist. 1739828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: my husband doesn't need nearly as much sleep as me and survives on about 5-6 hours. I, on the other hand, need about 8 to feel refreshed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739820 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 21:21:57 +0000 Greentea 1739820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: nice! That guy sounds like my baby :meh: </p> <p>I survive on much less than I ever thought I could pre LO, that's for sure! </p> <p>My sister dated a trader in NY that slept 2 hours a night, then would sleep through the weekend! He worked a lot! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739817 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 21:20:16 +0000 blackbird 1739817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Omg that sounds awful. I regularly subsided on little sleep in college, so you can do it! It won't be for forever :)</p> <p>@catlady, I also get canker sores when I am unkind to my body. The worst </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739810 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 21:15:41 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1739810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: just to get through nursing school. must. get. it. all. done. :) I dated a guy that subsisted on 5 hours of sleep a day and it just worked for him, he could take 5-10 minute power naps and be completely refreshed. I was so jealous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739805 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 21:13:30 +0000 catlady 1739805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes and no. I never slept much through my teens and 20s. In my late 20s, I started sleeping more (8+ hrs) and found that I stopped getting sick and lots of health problems that had plagued me my whole life (headaches, canker sores) went away. I actually attributed it to diet (b/c I had started eating better around the same time) but after LO was born and my sleep went down the drain, I kept the same diet but I got super sick a bunch of times in a row and started getting canker sores and headaches again. I feel generally ok on less sleep, but I now know how it can affect my health. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739739 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 20:47:13 +0000 blackbird 1739739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sure, but it will catch up with you eventually. Your body will show signs of wear and tear elsewhere. I prioritize the shit out of my sleep now :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739738 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 20:46:27 +0000 Kimberlybee 1739738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I have adjusted and my new norm is 5-6 hours of sleep now. I don't think this is a good thing though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739732 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 20:45:11 +0000 Mae 1739732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like I've adjusted. I was the same way before I had my daughter. I needed 8-9+ hours or I felt horrible. Now I get 5.5-7 (interrupted) hrs and I feel fine generally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739702 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 20:37:22 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1739702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm shocked at how well I have adapted since K was born. Now that she's settled into a 'routine' of waking 1-2 times per night, I feel like I've adjusted to a new normal. I always needed TONS of sleep, and now it seems different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739700 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 20:37:11 +0000 cmomma17 1739700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you can adjust ... but I also think it might shave a few years off your life! :silly: :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-permanently-adapt-to-living-on-less-sleep#post-1739668 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 20:28:25 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1739668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have always required a lot of sleep to feel well-rested. As in 8-9 hours - and preferably even 10! I love sleep. Getting only 7 hours I always felt dead tired.</p> <p>But I need more hours in the day to get everything done... so I've been waking earlier - but because I still need my evening hours - it means I'm getting about 6 hours of sleep a night. It's a been a week and so far I'm surviving... but I wonder how long I'll last before I just crash.</p> <p>Note: I never, ever got even 6 hours of sleep a night before J was a year old. But of course in that instance I didn't have a choice... I just did what all mothers have to do. </p>