Fit after 50

Minute Tips / Sleep

Minute Tip · Sleep

How much sleep do you need?

The answer does not shrink as you age.

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The tip

The National Institute on Aging says older adults need about the same amount of sleep as all adults: seven to nine hours each night.

Sleep does change with age. You may go to bed earlier and wake earlier, sleep can be lighter, and you may wake more often. That is common.

If you are always sleepy, or you find it hard to get enough sleep at night, it may be time to talk with your doctor.

A simple place to start is a two-week sleep diary. Write down when you go to bed and when you get up. It gives you something concrete to bring to the conversation.

The claim behind this tip

Moderate evidence The National Institute on Aging says older adults need about the same amount of sleep as all adults, seven to nine hours each night.

Supportive guidance exists, with more limits or less consistency than a strong rating. Source-checked on . This rating is proposed, pending confirmation by a person. No clinician has reviewed this page.

Limits: One authoritative source was checked. It is a general amount. Some people need more or less, and health conditions matter.

Limits: One authoritative source was checked. It is a general amount, and health conditions matter. It cannot tell you whether you have a sleep problem. General education, not medical advice.

Try it today

Pick one bedtime habit to try tonight. Choose one habit from a short list and try it tonight: going to bed at your usual time, a relaxing wind-down such as reading or soft music, or keeping screens out of the bedroom. About 5 minutes.

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