Why Six Hours Of Sleep Is As Bad As None At All

The article says six hours of sleep a night is not enough for peak productivity and can be as harmful as no sleep at all. In a lab study, people limited to six hours for two weeks performed as poorly as those kept awake for two days, while often thinking they were doing fine.

It also says people are bad at estimating their own sleep, so someone who believes they sleep seven hours may actually get six. The piece closes with common advice for improving sleep, including a regular bedtime, less screen use before bed, less alcohol, more exercise, and addressing weight, stress, and other health issues.

Reading notes

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• A sleep study in Sleep restricted 48 adults to four, six, or eight hours a night for two weeks, and one group stayed awake for three days straight.
• The six-hour group performed as poorly as the people who were kept awake for two days.
• The six-hour group did not rate their sleepiness as especially bad even while performance declined.
• The article says people often misjudge how much they sleep and may overestimate nightly sleep.
• CDC data cited in the piece says more than 35% of Americans sleep less than seven hours in a typical day.
• The article mentions advice such as keeping a consistent bedtime, avoiding screens before bed, limiting alcohol, and exercising.
• It also notes that excess weight, sleep apnea, stress, and other physical or psychological issues can affect sleep.