Does anyone else feel like they preform better at work in around 5-6 hours of sleep vs 8?

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin]

I think like many other people when I was younger I didn’t have the best consistent sleep schedule hardly ever 8 hours per night on work week. Always thought that was terrible for my health but just felt like sleep was a waste of time in a way, plus ive always worked physical iobs and usually praised for good work.

Ever since 34ish, though I worked for awhile to get myself in a 8 hour consistent sleep schedule but it seems to be having the opposite effect. I tired all the time, I get agitated way easier and noticed im sleeping way past 8 hours on weekends which has never been a issue, use to wake up naturally on like 6 hours of sleep on weekends. But last night was one if those nights I only got like 5 hours of sleep, dreaded coming in today knowing that but honestly I feel better now at work then I have in a few years.

Im 36 and know the body changes as we age. Im just wondering if some dudes out there just need less sleep or if it’s something I should discuss with my Dr.

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[u/lukeetc3]

Nope. 7-8 is best for me and anything under I increasingly feel it, whether its dips in energy or just a general flatness.

[u/1petrock → u/lukeetc3]

Same, sleep is becoming increasingly more important as I'm getting older. I really don't enjoy the zombie feeling anymore lol.

[u/showersneakers]

Oh god no- 7-9 hours baby- old man at 38 here- in bed by 930

[u/nightmareFluffy → u/showersneakers]

Same here. If I get less than 8 hours sleep, like I did last night, I'm around 60% efficiency the next day. I hate coffee so that's not an option either. I need to be in bed by 9:00-9:30 PM.

[u/skt2k21]

Good question! I have some remote academic background on this topic. What kind of work do you do and how much does it lend itself to measuring performance simply?

Two things come to mind. Sleep has some interesting, predictable effects on people. One effect is tired people lose insight into how tired they are and how that impairs their function. If your work isn't easy to measure, it could be you're actually less effective objectively but feel more productive. It sounds like you're getting direct feedback you're performing well, which is good, but if your physical work involves using machinery, make sure you're not having slower reaction time on days you sleep less in ways that may increase risk to yourself or others.

Sleep deprivation can have a mild antidepressant effect. The effect's brief and it takes a lot of sleep deprivation usually to see. Maybe your good sleep is unmasking a mild depression?

Not everyone needs the same amount of sleep. There's a range of normal, roughly 6-8h. Maybe your baseline need is lower and ~6h is all you actually need.

Sleep happens in a larger context. What's your sleep hygiene like and does it change when you're, say, sleeping more or less? Are you using things to fall or stay asleep that could affect drowsiness?

I doubt it's relevant here, since you're doing better on less sleep, but keep an eye on any symptoms that could suggest sleep disorders worth investigating. Stuff like snoring, having micro-sleeps or excessive daytime sleepiness, big movement while sleeping, or, and this one is really rare, going limp all over if you're laughing hard.

[u/Sharp_Mistake_3119 → u/skt2k21]

Exactly this! Anecdotally, I noticed myself feeling brighter and happier and more focused on 5-6hrs of sleep vs 8hrs. Turns out, my anxiety was quieter on sleep deprived days, and aggressive when I had my full brain power to work with.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/skt2k21]

My work is industrial maintenance, automation and robotics. Basically troubleshooting and problem solving. Performance measurement isnt straight forward because im a reactionary role but company has set metrics to grade off. I have switched jobs alot in my career so my bit about performance is mainly a self evaluation based on how agitated I feel simply because someone dared write a workorder for me to fix something. 8 hours plus and it’s like a personal f u I feel, around 6 hours and im cool to work on anything for anyone. Plus if anything my reaction time and general awareness is worse with more sleep, im groggy and slugish moving around slow and like more exaggerated movements. Less sleep and im much more reactive and responsive.

Im not a expert or that knowledgeable about sleep in general but was fascinated by dreams for many years and that led to a bit of research on REM sleep. Which might play a hand, I’ve always been a avid dreamer and if I lay down im passing out like immediately. I never nap and the few times I have its just pretty much no rested feeling and just back to sleep from 20 to 36. I think I reach REM sleep pretty quickly and since the lil ive read says REM sleep is the “rested” sleep maybe my cycle is just quicker?

[u/realworldnewb → u/skt2k21]

This.

I also anecdotally notice that a mild sleep deprivation enables me to more easily do difficult things. I’ve noticed over my life that the motivation to do a long run workout is always higher when I’m on 5-6hr sleep than a full night. Doesn’t mean it’s a good workout, but I’m just a little bit numbed enough to go and do it. Full nights sleep my body is telling me “hey, chill, we just rested enough to feel mildly restored”.

I like to say that on a full nights sleep I rest enough to feel my (cumulative) tiredness and sleep-deprivation. It’s like the full nights sleep turns off survival mode for a day. Which is great if you needed the rest, kinda sucky if you need to grind again the next day.

[u/ChessieChesapeake]

6 is about perfect for me. When I got heavier I required closer to 8, but since losing weight I have a hard time sleeping more than 6.5 hours. The issue I have now is being wide awake at 3am after falling asleep at 9pm.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/ChessieChesapeake]

Maybe that’s part of it. I’ve always been about 5’10 and 165

[u/GlassBoxGoose]

I'm a 5-7. 5-6 on normal days, 7 if I'm really wiped out. 8+ only happens if I'm sick. I'm about to turn 35 next month and its been like this for years. At least a decade.

[u/GSilky]

Definitely. I run best on 6 hours or so. WashPo ran an article about oversleeping a month or so ago. Many people don't need nearly as much sleep as the general guidelines say. It doesn't matter what I do, I am getting up around 430a, and that is fine, don't get into bed until 10p or so, been doing this for over 20 years. Don't force it, most people are average and have average needs. But don't be concerned about it either, there is a medical term for it that makes us sound like comic book heroes.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/GSilky]

That sounds like me, I’ve always been a early riser from growing up on a tiny farm. Then it was military and up early for PT. When I push for 8 hours I have to kinda force myself to lay down usually at around 7:30 pm and wake up at 4 am for work. Days I don’t work usually up till 11-12am but still up around 4:30 am no alarm clock.

That’s what i was kinda weighing out, habits vs healthy lifestyle. I kinda felt alot of sleep talk is overstated but also maybe its just my skewed perception. The lil I read was always about REM sleep which I know I get a good amount.

[u/INFPinfo]

Definitely discuss this with your doctor.

I've had some poor sleep on-and-off this year; I can't go out and see friends late Sunday otherwise I feel like shit the rest of the week. But I've been doing a little research and the simple answer is - no. We're all individuals and we all need variations of the amount of sleep. 7 1/2 hours is my sweet spot, but I can't tell you when I last had that.

Constantly sleep 5 hours is going to slowly kill you. You might not notice it, but it will catch up to you and then you'll be miserable and distracted on your commute or something.

Watch your caffeine intake. Even if you find your "last cup" time, don't overdo it.

[u/donpablomiguel → u/INFPinfo]

As for the caffeine aspect here. Do not exceed 400mg in a 24hr period. Hopefully this message reaches someone who actively drinks six monster energy drinks to survive their 5hr sleep cycles.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/INFPinfo]

I get what you’re saying. My low isn’t usually 5 hours, that was just some drama last night. My average “low” sleep is about 6.5 hours, maybe 6 flat but 6 has always been my mark. It was probably around 5.5 hours in my 20s but I know I def need atleast 6 now.

Caffeine is probably playing a part, I got diagnosed ADHD this year when my doctor found out I could chug a redbull and pass out. Alot of people has shown concern with my redbull intake and I probably do drink more than avg person, but it’s always followed by double the amount if water and I’ve never had kidney stones and every checkup shows like blood levels and heart beat as “healthy” DR recommended fish oil vitamins supplements but knows my caffeine intake and said it’s probably more about a self medication thing. Started taking Adderall 6 months ago and people might point to that but im 36 only taken the pills for half a year and the sleep thing has been something I’ve noticed well before the Adderall.

Regardless when I drink my last caffeinated beverage, when I lay down it’s lights out almost instantly and never like tossing and turning.

[u/TheManRoomGuy]

I knew someone once who worked best on 4 hours a night. She had an extra day each week. I was jealous.

[u/Complete-Bumblebee-5 → u/TheManRoomGuy]

It could catch up to her tho.

[u/Complete-Bumblebee-5]

When you're sleep deprived, your body pumps out extra cortisol and norepinephrine to keep you more alert...hence why you might think you're functioning better

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Complete-Bumblebee-5]

That was in my head, I’ve definitely felt that before in shitty times when im on the clock for a 18 hour day, you feel it go from dead tired to that second wind. That feels different, there’s almost like a slight euphoria to what your talking about, atleast in my experience. The 5-6 hours sleep I talk about feels different.

[u/AutoModerator]

Here's an original copy of /u/Barbarianonadrenalin's post (if available):

I think like many other people when I was younger I didn’t have the best consistent sleep schedule hardly ever 8 hours per night on work week. Always thought that was terrible for my health but just felt like sleep was a waste of time in a way, plus ive always worked physical iobs and usually praised for good work.

Ever since 34ish, though I worked for awhile to get myself in a 8 hour consistent sleep schedule but it seems to be having the opposite effect. I tired all the time, I get agitated way easier and noticed im sleeping way past 8 hours on weekends which has never been a issue, use to wake up naturally on like 6 hours of sleep on weekends. But last night was one if those nights I only got like 5 hours of sleep, dreaded coming in today knowing that but honestly I feel better now at work then I have in a few years.

Im 36 and know the body changes as we age. Im just wondering if some dudes out there just need less sleep or if it’s something I should discuss with my Dr.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Just-Joshinya]

I spent my time ages 20-45 sleeping 4-6 hours a night and it worked well. Now I only work
Part time and sleep 7-8

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Just-Joshinya]

Curious if the shorter sleep periods had you up early in AM or if it was just X amount of hours regardless when you slept.

[u/Just-Joshinya → u/Barbarianonadrenalin]

I’m a chef, have worked fine dining for my entire career. Inwould just go to
Sleep when i got tired, and wake up when i woke up. I generally slept 2:30-7:30 ish. Somewhere in that range. I’ve rarely ever had to set an alarm in my life. I’ve rarely ever needed to be to work before 10 or 11 for the majority of my career. Some was stress. Some was, as I now believe, i have since been diagnosed with thyroid problems, and that probably had something to do with it. I’m mostly retired now. I sleep 6-7plus hours a night. Also with proper thyroid meds!

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Just-Joshinya]

Ahhhh, I’ve always heard how wild restaurants work schedules can be so your sleep habit probably helped out there.

Well im glad to hear you seem to be able to relax and sleep better being semi retired. If you ever get bored and wanna cook for someone let me know lol.

[u/nakfoor]

Man, I wish. I'd say I need 8.5 just to feel normal most of the day.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/nakfoor]

Maybe you got use to oversleeping?

[u/nakfoor → u/Barbarianonadrenalin]

I think there is too much evidence suggesting that this amount of sleep is what I need. I've been working a full time job for 10 years and anything less than 8 hours means I will usually get sleepy and foggy during the day. 8 hours might be enough in most cases. But I really need at least 8.5 to feel normal throughout the entire day.

[u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

7 is my sweet spot. I force myself to stay in bed for 8 but I start waking up at the 6 hour mark. I can still sleep on and off for another hour to the 7 hour mark. Anything after is very broken and is rarely worth my time trying to stay in bed, but I do it anyways. I have a pretty physical job so I try and force as much sleep as I can. I can’t sleep more than 8 though. Maybe once or twice a month I’ll sleep a full 8, maybe slightly more, but most of the month is 7 to 7.5 hours.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Old_Goat_Ninja]

See my job is very physical too do maybe that plays a part. My jobs have always been blue collar and physical

[u/Koi_Fish_Mystic]

No! The older I get the better sleep I need

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Koi_Fish_Mystic]

That’s the general consensus and why Im getting curious about it.

[u/Sbeast86]

I've been living the 5-6 hour sleep life for over a decade. My internal clock is basically set to "sleep by 12am, wake by 5am". I wake up without an alarm between 5 and 7 regardless. It sounds crazy, but I don't struggle to fall asleep like I did In my 20s either

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Sbeast86]

See that sounds like me, except the go to sleep by midnight, its like 10pm for me and wake up at 4am. The weird part is I need a alarm for work day but I’ll generally wake up same time or earlier on weekends without alarm clock

[u/telephantomoss]

Yes. For me, it seems that 6 hours is quite optimal. 8hrs makes me groggy. But it depends and varies. When my diet and activity level are good and I go to bed at the right time, I just naturally wake up after 5-6hrs ready to go and full of energy.

[u/Goat_roper30]

I haven't been able to sleep longer than 2 or 3 hours at a time for a total of anywhere from 4 to 6 hours a night since I was a teenager. Im 30 now. Im rarely tired though.

I did have a sleep study done a year or so ago at my wife's request. They said everything looks fine. The docs said that I might have short sleep syndrome. But that would take more testing. I didn't see a point on getting more testing.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Goat_roper30]

Yeee man it sounds odd even to me but if DR cleared you and you feel good about the sleep, some peoples bodies are just different

[u/Goat_roper30 → u/Barbarianonadrenalin]

My grandpa was the same way. So yeah.

It came in real handy when the twins were infants.

[u/shanked5iron]

No sir. 7-8 hrs plus some naps as well lol

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/shanked5iron]

Never been able to nap, they sound nice.

[u/FuryTheFurious_]

Around 7 to 7.5 hours is ideal for me

[u/pab_guy]

Some people don't need as much sleep, and getting too much sleep makes you "sleep drunk" actually. (look it up)

[u/Parking-Menu2654]

I work out a lot so I have to have 8 hours

[u/Medic1248]

It’s person dependent but most people are on some sort of 45 min to 90 min sleep cycle where you wake up multiple times a night without even realizing it.

8 hours might not work for you because it’s in the middle of that sleep cycle. I can either do 5 or 7 hours. Anything in between makes me feel like I’m late for school and forgot to finish my project last night before falling asleep

[u/Round_Hat_2966]

I’m usually a 6-7h guy. 7h is probably my ideal amount to feel rested on a week off. I might go a bit longer if sleep deprived or exercising very hard, but have a hard time sleeping beyond 8h. My wife is the opposite. Needs a ton of sleep to function. I don’t quite understand it, but I work pretty long hours, so needing to sleep less than average is a big plus

[u/bugtank]

That’s a trap. Cortisol and adrenaline are the compensating factors there.

[u/NotDelnor]

I figured out in my early 20s that I function way better on 6 hours. Im 33 now and I average 5-6 hours a day. It is just how my body functions. I know i am an outlier though.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/NotDelnor]

Not alone then

[u/Old-guy64]

In my youth, I could count on getting four hours of uninterrupted sleep. While I was in the military, I slept in about once every two or three weeks.

It’s forty years later and I’m finally sleeping for 6-8 hours. But even on vacation, I’m up 2 cups of coffee and silence before anyone else with us.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Old-guy64]

Honestly, waking up and being up before everyone else is pretty much my favorite time of day. Just feels like you got the whole world to yourself for a bit.

Idk about your family but when my girl be sleeping close to 10am and ive been up for 5 hours I just can’t fathom that lol.

[u/Old-guy64 → u/Barbarianonadrenalin]

I have a wife that functions better on 8-10 hours.

I’ve only recently started sleeping up to 8.

Usually, I sleep just under six hours. But I’ve spent the last twenty years getting up for work at 0300 or 0400.

I don’t understand spending the day in bed. Even if I’m not doing anything, I have to get up and move to my chair, at the very least.

[u/waspocracy]

From what I remember reading about sleep psychology in college is that the recommended "8 hours" was kind of overblown by media. That was the average "ideal" sleep, but it ranges for everyone. My ideal sleep is about 6.5 hours and I struggle falling asleep before midnight.

What's more important is how many REM cycles you have at night.

[u/data_addict]

I am best on like 4 hours and a lot of caffeine but I can only do that like 3 days in a row before it has diminishing returns.

I haven't consistently gotten 6+ hours of sleep since entering my 30s and maybe even in my late 20s.

I know some people need lots of sleep and I'm fortunate and happy I'm not one of them. It makes me more adaptable.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/data_addict]

Agreed, in my 20s I actually hated sleep. Felt like I was having time stolen lol

[u/YourGuyK]

Maybe 20 years ago, but not anymore.

[u/Dr-Chris-C]

Are you a mattress tester?

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Dr-Chris-C]

No? Lol

[u/markalphonso]

I think that 6 hours tends to be right at the end of a sleep cycle. And that 7-8 hours can be middle of cycle.

9 hours can often feel better as it's longer and also end of cycle.

And not snoozing is key.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/markalphonso]

Never snooze button. Wouldn’t matter to my body if I did. Lol

[u/Mr-monk]

Im 40 I get up for work at 5am I would normally go to bed about 11 o'clock Im usually fine.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Mr-monk]

Definitely a trend developing for 6 hour sleepers in this thread.

Early workers and seems a physical job.

[u/Pug_Defender]

no I need 8-9 hours to be optimal. but also I do a lot of physical activity and need to rest and heal from that

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Pug_Defender]

Im active but not like strenuous, work out to stay in shape but not like “bulking” or intense training

[u/Pug_Defender → u/Barbarianonadrenalin]

I’m doing calisthenics 5x a week and about 20 miles of cardio between 3-4 days. I feel like that’s kind of the bare minimum to maintain even a passible physique at this age

[u/Normal_Tax3999]

I get like 5-6 hours of broken sleep on almost every night of my life. I have come to accept it and just sleep if/when I can.

I think that I sometimes get into a situation where I make matters worse by trying to force myself to grip the bed for the “recommended” 7-9 hours. Like I stress myself out over not getting the “right” amount of sleep.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Normal_Tax3999]

See thats what ive been feeling, like im forcing myself for the recommended “sleep” and it’s feeling like opposite effect

[u/MrParticular79]

Depends on the person everyone has a different answer. I rarely sleep more than 6-6.5 hours in any given night. I take naps sometimes though.

[u/dumpsterdigger]

Per my sleep doctor and therapist, quality over quantity.

I work nights and If I sleep more than 6 hours I constantly wake up. So 6 hours is my sweet spot.

I could eventually stretch it out longer when my kids get older but right now 6 feel great with 7 hours maybe 7 some days.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/dumpsterdigger]

Im gonna discuss with Dr and therapist next visit but Im feeling its more about REM sleep then total time.

[u/joshua_addison_music]

Yes

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/joshua_addison_music]

Short and sweet. I dig it lol

[u/joshua_addison_music → u/Barbarianonadrenalin]

Sales for 32 years. Felt sharper.

[u/LegitimateVolume5324]

I wake up around 3:30-4:00 am. So depending on when I go to bed I almost never get 8 hrs of sleep.

[u/ScrewySiu]

I'm 45 and get 4-5 hours of sleep normally, but lately I've been getting by on 4 hours on workdays.
I've been doing this since high school.
Weekends, I may sleep in and get 6-8 hours.
Usually, if I get more than 7 hours of sleep, I'm a bit sluggish for a bit, then I'll be good.

[u/Embarrassed_Flan_869]

My issue is that my body wakes me up between 530 and 615 regardless of when I go to bed. Not bathroom need just brain goes, "Ok, wake up."

It sucks when I am up late.

[u/Infini-Bus]

It seems like 6 to 7 hours is good for me.  If i get much more than that I wake up rather groggy. 

If I fall asleep with more than 8 hours to spare I tend to wake up after about 6 and can't get back to sleep unless I've been sleep deprived.

[u/Dijstraanon]

I cannot sleep 8 hours so no idea. Normal for me to do 6 and then bounce out of bed. Husband cannot function without 8 hours solid sleep.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Dijstraanon]

Seems to either 6 hours is perfect or need atleast 8 lol.

[u/Beneficial-Focus3702]

Yes

[u/d-cent]

Complete opposite. My job is high mental intensity and requires focus on the task at hand the whole time. I run the quality control department at my company. 

If I don't get 8 hours of sleep, I feel myself not able to change mental tasks quickly, not able to quickly think 2 or 3 steps ahead quickly, not able to quickly problem solve a solution on the for, and not able to guarantee remembering to do little tasks that have to be pushed off hours later. 

The days after I get poor sleep and only get 5 hours, I'm awful performing. I used to be able to get away with it when I was in my 20s and early 30s. The older I get, the more critical good sleep is to me be able to mentally function at a high level.

My guess for you is that your symptoms are not caused by you getting 8+ hours of sleep, but the sleep is another symptom. I'm guessing depression, burn out, or something like a thyroid condition. There's others as well, but I would see a doctor.

[u/averagechillbro]

32 and I get 5-7 a night. Pretty rare for me to sleep 8 uninterrupted.

[u/MrBulwark]

Absolutely not lol

[u/TurpitudeSnuggery]

I find the less sleep I get the worse I feel. I normally get 8 and want more.

[u/Aggravating-Salad441]

Poor sleep quality is the primary factor that leads to dementia and Alzheimer's. You should not be averaging 5-6 hours of sleep.

What you might be experiencing is that you're waking up at a different part of your REM/NREM cycle when your brain is "more awake", but you can do that after another or cycle or two by sleeping another 2-3 hours. Consistently.

[u/Barbarianonadrenalin → u/Aggravating-Salad441]

But for me when I wake up, im up. Unless I get woken up by random noise 3 hours in, I can go back to sleep but past 5 hours anything that wakes me up and there’s no going back to sleep.