A teenager should ideally sleep between 8 and 10 hours every night. This amount of sleep is recommended for optimal physical and mental health, cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and overall well-being during the teenage years.
Why Teens Need 8-10 Hours
- Teenagers are undergoing rapid physical and mental development, requiring more sleep than adults.
- Their internal biological clocks shift, making them naturally want to fall asleep later and wake up later.
- Adequate sleep helps with academic performance, emotional stability, memory, learning, and physical health.
Common Challenges
- Most teens, however, only get about 6.5 to 7.5 hours due to early school start times, social activities, technology use at night, and other demands on their time.
- Chronic sleep deprivation among teens can lead to increased risks of depression, anxiety, poor academic results, and other health issues.
Recommendations
- Striving for 8 to 10 hours regularly can promote better health and developmental outcomes.
- Good sleep hygiene practices, limiting screen time before bed, and managing caffeine can help improve sleep quality for teens.
In summary, for best health and performance, teenagers should aim to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.
