Q: Hi, Dr. Deb, I seem to be tired all the time! With kids, work, and after school activities…I’m exhausted. I’m getting about 6 hours of sleep a night. Is that enough? How many should my kids be getting?
A: Most adults need somewhere between six and eight hours of sleep per night in order to stay healthy and feel their best. We live at such a hectic pace that many of us have a sleep deficit of several hours per week. It is difficult to make the deficit up with just 1-2 extra hours of sleep on the weekend.
If you ARE getting enough hours of sleep and are still tired, I would recommend discussing your fatigue with your doctor. It may be that your fatigue has a different cause such as sleep apnea or depression.
Stress and no time for “self” can also add to fatigue. It is important to allow yourself time for recharging your batteries with activities that give you time to relax.
[callout]Spending time with God reading, journaling, and praying can be very restorative. [/callout]Your kids need at least 8-9 hours of sleep nightly. If they do not get enough rest, they may have problems with irritability, poor attention span, and mood just like adults do.
Be kind to both yourself and your family by making it a priority to get enough rest every night!!
Yours in Health and in Him,
Dr. Deb