Do I need less Sleep when I’m Older?

This is a common misconception, and the answer is quite simply no. Our sleeping patterns are subject to change as we get older and develop, but there is no reason why you should have less sleep. You may find as you get older that you have more disruptions to your sleep, due to hormone changes, bladder weakness and so forth. However, sleep is just as vital to you when you’re older as it was when you were younger. When you sleep when you’re older, you are still re-building your immune system, clearing your mind, restoring much needed energy and so on.

Equally, getting older does not just mean when we become elderly but also when we enter into adolescence. You often feel as though you have “grown up” and do not need as much sleep. However, sleep is just as, if not more, important than when you were a young child as you are going through vast growth and hormone changes and sleep will aid these.


As we grow older, we will change with our sleeping patterns and it is just a case of finding the right sleeping pattern for you. It may take time, but by adopting healthy sleeping habits and establishing a good sleeping routine, you should still sleep so that you feel refreshed when you wake up.

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