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Comment by Xcelerate | Hacker News Reader

You know how there's people that can get by on 4-5 hours of sleep each night? I think I'm the opposite. Left to my own devices, I will sleep 10-10.5 hours a day. If I wake up with anything less than 9, I feel pretty horrible. Not sure why, but I sure wish I could get by on less.

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I thought I was the same way for a long time, but for me the kicker was 'left to my own devices' - I NEVER had anywhere near 8 hours consistently, so on the weekends, I would crash for more than 10 hours at least. My conclusion was that I needed more than 9 hours a day.

Then I went on a year long vacation - and after the first couple months of sleeping over 10 hours naturally - my body finally caught up with its sleep debt, and I was sleeping about 8 hours a day. I was amazed. Turns out I was just sleep deprived. Of course, I do know people who consistently get 9.5 hours day, so your mileage may vary. Just something to think about in this sleep deprived world.

Very similar here, although it's decreasing as I age. In my twenties I needed 9.5-10 hours per night to feel optimally sharp and focused; 10 years later my requirement seems to be down around 9 hours.

Although, like most hot-air-pushers in these sleep threads, I never tried objective measurements of performance under different circumstances. Maybe I just _feel_ like shit, but actually perform well, with less than 9 hours of sleep.

My sleep-wake cycle falls to 10-20 hours if I can let it, for some reason.

This of course spells disaster for my normal work week. I still haven't gotten used to 24 hour days.

Have you considered the possibility that you're suffering from sleep apnea?

I don't think I am. I'm in shape (was D1 runner) and 22. Who knows though.

While excess weight is an contributing cause, lots of underweight and normal weight people have sleep apnea. Much of it is just based on your jaw morphology.

Source: I am typically underweight, and I have sleep apnea.

I've known people who have had it, and were in their twenties and in excellent physical shape.

Hmm. Thanks. I will look into it then.

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