The origin of the "8-hour sleep theory".
In the middle of the 19th century, Britain was in the midst of a period of rapid development of the Industrial Revolution. Large numbers of peasants poured into the cities to endure boring and monotonous manual labor in the factories. From dawn to dusk, they operated like machines, with little time to rest.
Workers live in cramped and dilapidated shanty towns, in the company of rats and cockroaches. Many of the children fall into the mines before the age of 10 and work with their parents. After a long day of hard work, they can't even afford to cook a hot meal.
In such a miserable life, the workers gradually could no longer bear it. They spontaneously gathered to discuss, culminating in a massive strike protest.
The uprising eventually forced the management and the government to back down. The workers finally got a humane time to live. However, this slogan later spread throughout society, and people mistakenly believed that everyone must sleep 8 hours a day, which is the origin of the "8-hour sleep theory".
The error of the "8-hour sleep theory".
Time has passed, and now it is not what it used to be. With the progress of society and the development of medicine, people have gradually realized that there are certain misunderstandings in the "8-hour sleep theory".
People of different ages have different daily sleep needs. Children and adolescents are in a critical period of rapid physical growth and need 9-10 hours of sleep per night to ensure adequate rest.
The vast majority of adult office workers have to rush to work in the early morning, and it is actually difficult to achieve 8 hours of adequate sleep every day.
Scientific studies have also shown that adults sleep 7-8 hours a day at their best. If it is less, it will easily lead to fatigue, reduce work efficiency, and affect physical and mental health; And too much sleep is not necessary, but it may feel like the mind is chaotic.
Some people with special constitutions can maintain abundant energy the next day even if they do not sleep enough or too much sleep every day.
Therefore, the "8-hour sleep theory" does not apply to everyone. Sticking to 8 hours does not guarantee quality sleep, nor does it mean that less or more than 8 hours is wrong.
It's all about how you feel, and if you wake up refreshed in the morning, you're getting the healthiest sleep.
The best amount of sleep for seniors over 65 years of age
Quality sleep is especially important for people who are moving into old age. It is directly related to the regulation and recovery of bodily functions and the comfort of physical and mental state.
Relevant studies have shown that people over the age of 65 sleep 7-7 times a day. 5 hours is the most appropriate. Less than this can easily lead to problems such as fatigue, decreased concentration, and memory loss.
Too much sleep is also unnecessary, but can lead to a disruption of the biological clock and a feeling of lightheadedness during the day.
In fact, for the elderly, the quality of sleep is more important than the quantity. Even if you lie in bed for 8-9 hours a day, you toss and turn and have difficulty falling asleep, and it is difficult to fall back asleep after waking up multiple times, and this kind of low-quality sleep is not good for your physical and mental health.
Experts suggest that it is best for the elderly to go to sleep before 10-11 p.m., and it is most reasonable to wake up naturally the next day. This maximizes deep sleep and allows the body and mind to get the best care during the night.
If you have problems such as dreaming, forgetfulness, dizziness, etc., don't preconceived about choosing to sleep more time, you should start with improving the quality of sleep.
Regarding sleep, it cannot be mechanical
From the above discussion, we can conclude that there is no set standard for a reasonable amount of sleep for different individuals. We can't simply apply mechanized models such as the "8-hour sleep theory".
Children, teens, adults, and seniors have different sleep needs for each age group. In addition, different individuals of the same age group will also have different requirements for sleep time due to differences in their congenital constitutions.
All these require us to make a concrete analysis of specific problems, and we cannot follow the old road of formalism.
So what should be used as a criterion for judging the right sleep? The most important thing is how you feel. If you wake up naturally and on time in the morning, feeling refreshed and energized enough throughout the day, then your sleep is healthy.
On the contrary, it is necessary to adjust the sleep time appropriately or pay attention to the quality of sleep.
The key is to conform to the natural laws of your own physiological needs, and not to be reluctant for a certain sleep "standard". Sleep cannot be mechanical and should be tailored to individual needs.
Only in this way can we calmly face the busy schedule and maintain the vitality of body and mind.