Let’s talk about sleep. Are you getting enough? Are you getting too much? Is it quality sleep? There are a few things to keep in mind as you aim for a restful night’s sleep.

As stated in a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) article, a majority of adults require at least 7 hours of quality rest per night to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day. Children, on the other hand, have very different needs. See below for their provided breakdown by age:

• Teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night
• School-aged children need 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night
• Preschoolers need to sleep between 10 and 13 hours a day (including naps)
• Toddlers need to sleep between 11 and 14 hours a day (including naps)
• Babies need to sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day (including naps)
• Newborns need to sleep between 14 and 17 hours a day

Aside from the most well-known benefit of feeling rested and restored, sleep can provide major benefits to physical, mental, and social wellness. UW Health published articles along with DHHS about an abundance of ways we can benefit from creating strong sleep patterns, which include but are not limited to:

• Brain, heart, lung, muscle, and bone health
• Better concentration, enhanced attention, better problem-solving skills and improved recall are possible with good sleep habits
• Fewer changes in mood
• Get sick less often
• Stay at a healthy weight
• Lower your risk for serious health problems, like diabetes and heart disease
• Reduce stress and improve your mood
• Think more clearly and do better in school and at work
• Get along better with people
• Make good decisions and avoid injuries — for example, drowsy drivers cause thousands of car accidents every year

Please visit UHS’ website to learn about ways to get a good, restorative, night’s sleep!