How much sleep do you need?

Ever wonder what the magic number is for being able to wake up and feel completely refreshed, ready to start your day? Typically, we'll quote that we need eight hours of sleep every night to get this refreshed, revitalized feeling. However, the amount of sleep you need depends on one thing: you.

Every person is going to feel differently after they get six, eight, ten or another amount of hours of sleep. This is what makes it hard to figure out how much sleep you need. Age, lifestyle and health are just some of the factors that contribute to the amount of sleep you need every night. By understanding sleep and your body you will be able to find that perfect amount so you don't wake up tired or like you overslept.

The average adult sleeps less than seven hours per night, according to the National Institutes of Health. Most healthy adults need between seven and a half to nine hours of sleep every night to function at their best. However, this does depend on your health, age and lifestyle. That's why there is such a large gap between seven and half hours and nine hours of sleep. Some of us might feel that nine hours is perfect, while others might think seven and a half is the perfect amount for them.

So how do you figure out the right amount for you? Take a look at your typical day, where you get up and go to bed around the same time. If you got enough sleep the night before, you should feel alert and ready to go for the entire day. If you're feeling slow and dragging on your day, you didn't get enough sleep.

Take it as a step by step process. Every day consider how much you slept and how tired you feel throughout the day. That night, add more or less time to your sleep, depending on how your day went. Eventually you will find a good number of hours that is optimal for you.

Every person is going to vary with their sleep schedule and amount of sleep they need. Just because someone says that you need eight hours doesn't mean you need eight hours. Take the time to understand your sleep needs and you will find yourself being able to function throughout your entire day.