how much rem sleep should i have

For an average adult, it is recommended to spend about 20-25% of total sleep time in REM sleep. This usually translates to roughly 1.5 to 2 hours of REM sleep per night if you are getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of total sleep. In minutes, that would be approximately 90 to 135 minutes of REM sleep per night. The amount of REM sleep tends to increase towards the later part of the night during your sleep cycles. Ensuring you get enough REM sleep is important as it plays a key role in brain functions like memory consolidation, learning, emotional regulation, and mental health maintenance. Lack of sufficient REM sleep can negatively affect concentration, memory, and overall health over time.