Re: Reducing Sleep

How much sleep to aim for and how fast to reach your goal?

This is one the qustions I get often. For example: “I sleep 12 hours every day. Should I try to go straight to 6 hours, or should I try to reduce my sleep gradually?”

Well, It all depends on what’s your starting point and what you believe you’re capable of.

I would aim for anywhere between 5-8 hours a night. However, you should keep 2 goals in mind:

1. You want to get BETTER sleep.
2. You want to increase your energy level.

(That’s instead of just aiming toward sleeping less)

The most important thing is that you succeed. Failing might weaken you, and can start a chain reaction of “trying” and failing time and time again. So- don’t push yourself too hard.

If you always sleep 12 hours, you’d probably have to reduce gradually. Of course you would have to implement all the strategies that I recommend, like sticking to a sleep and wake routine, the right diet, increasing activity level, being in synch with you circadian rhythm and so on.

If you start at over 10 hours, try to reach 8½ hours. Then try to reduce half an hour every week or so. Don’t give up if you wake up tired. It takes time to get used to the change.

NOTE: If you haven’t yet, find out How to Stop Oversleeping »