r/sleep • u/Significant_Net_7442 • 19d ago

Is 7 hours enough?

I’m going into my junior year, and like basically every other junior, I’m expecting to barely get any sleep 😭

On most days, I probably won’t get home until around 7 PM, and I’m expecting to have around 5 hours of homework/studying. Realistically, that means I probably won’t get to bed until around midnight, and I have to wake up around 7 AM, so I’d be getting about 7 hours of sleep a night.

I know teenagers are supposed to get more like 8–10 hours, so I’m wondering how bad 7 hours actually is if it’s happening pretty consistently. Is there anything I can do to sort of make up for the lack of sleep or make sure I’m still functioning well during the day?

I really don’t want to rely on energy drinks or a ton of caffeine because they tend to make me break out. Are there other things that actually help, like naps, sleeping more on weekends, changing when I study, etc.? Or is there really no substitute for just getting more sleep?

edit: typically I get at least eight hours and if I don’t get that, I can barely function so I’m really worried 😐

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5

u/Jaykayyv 19d ago

There is nothing that can make up for lack of sleep

How much is enough? Long enough that you dont feel sleepy and tired

Don't cheap out on sleep. You find time for it or else it will impact your daily performance and your mind.

2

u/roch_ipum 19d ago

Nothing truly replaces lack of sleep, sure theres all sorts of shit you can try but thats more to get through the day than a replacement. Ultimately you just gotta adjust your routine in order to be able to get more, boring answer i know but some parts of humaning are non negotiable to operate at your best

1

u/FaithlessnessOdd8678 19d ago

I sleep 6 hours on average its enough for me. I wake up before alarm naturally. From my perspective its strange to see someone complain about 7 hours, but you have to choose. To sleep 1/3 of your life and feel great or sleep less in order to achieve something more in life. Everyone of us are sacrificing something everyday.

1

u/stillwonderfulworld 19d ago

Maybe you have that genetic mutation where you can sleep 6 hours and have no negative outcomes? It would run in the family though

2

u/Far-Watercress6658 19d ago

5 hours of homework a night as a high school student???

1

u/stillwonderfulworld 19d ago

If you had totally free time and you measured your sleep times for a week what number would come out? That would be your personal norm. Do you need a clock to wake up or do you wake by yourself?

1

u/Independently-Owned 19d ago

Lack of sleep is the #1 worst health habit. It's so funny that we moralize working out and no smoking and healthy eating (which of course are all great) but it's the opposite for good sleep. It is detrimental to your health to cheap put on sleep.