You mention the body’s circadian rhythm. I am sooooo in tune with the sun’s movement after a year and a half of watching every sunrise (and then doing my walk) that I naturally wake just as the sun is coming up. I have grown to love being so connected with the Universe through the sun. And even though my room is dark, I keep a blanket over the bedroom window and allow in no light (from the street) I still wake with the sun. And you are right about the need for darkness. I can actually feel my brain start to settle, calm and relax from the melatonin.

Also, I don’t sleep well if I don’t get regular exercise, lots of fresh air and movement, contact with the earth (hence barefoot walking which stimulates all the acupressure points on the bottom of the feet). I also do yoga at home every morning after I watch the sunrise and the colors of the sky; I do yoga and then walk.

I too have not had enough sleep in later years due to a variety of reasons, and I was always the sort who needed and like at least 8 hours of sleep. I was never able to sleep in. So I need to go to bed earlier, but find it hard unless I’ve had a 6+ mile walk in the mountains. So I am trying to do power naps. My husband does them all the time. He will lay right down on the floor and be asleep in 20 seconds and wake 20 minutes later. It takes me sometimes as long as an hour to get to sleep and then I will often sleep 3 – 4 hours before I wake uo LOLOLOL!!! Are you laughing my friend?? I am. It’s lovely if I have time to take 4 – 5 hours out of my day, but most days I don’t. But maybe if I did it more often it might become a habit I could get my body used to. What do you think?

Anyway, I really enjoyed this. Maybe I missed it but I went back and tried to find it….in which stage of sleep do we dream? Also, I’ve heard people say that the hours before midnight are when the body gets the most rest? That if you go to sleep after midnight the quality of sleep is not as good. Is this true or not. If so then I need to get to bed a lot earlier. LOL!!! ))

Thanks my friend. This was just delightful.
Okay off to take my first power nap of many…hopefully! :0

I hope that the problems you are having aren’t too serious.

I will never let myself suffer sleep deprivation but I certainly do enjoy and will continue to reduce my sleep if I can do it without side effects by getting the best sleep. Again, great article and thanks for the added discussion!

@Laurie, I’m so glad you sleep well naturally. Thanks for your comment.

@Sudeep, thank you so much for stopping by to contribute!

What I write is never categorically meant to apply to everyone. There are always exceptions. I have an uncle that slept 3 or 4 hours a night and always seemed perfectly energetic and mentally sharp. I’ve read that Jay Leno sleeps 4 hours a night and he certainly seems to suffer no ill effects. I think I need less than most people but I am not sure. If my wife only sleeps 7 hours one night, she suffers a lot of negative effects that day. She needs more than most people.

I slept 3 to 4 hours a night for years. Sometimes I didn’t go to bed at all. I had to go on sleeping pills to get any real sleep at all many nights. I don’t know what came first, but I was chronically tired, suffered depression, was moody and irritable, super stressed, taking 12 prescriptions, woke up with mind racing constantly, fell asleep during the day (just nodding momentarily), and on and on. I attacked sleep first and starting sleeping almost 6 hours a night within a couple of weeks. I found I was able to make other changes as things improved. I was a mess. I have cognitive problems and I’m not sure what the cause is, but I’m getting better. I’m sure I stressed my body to the point of permanent damage and suffered some significant health problems.

But I have made massive changes and am seeing massive results. I’m committed to a very healthy sleep pattern. I don’t think I’m quite there yet.