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What's the minimum amount of sleep you need to consistently function at optimal levels?

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GMATT73
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:02
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With all the hype about how brutal this first semester is going to be, I am just curious as to how many of us can consistently perform on minimum levels of sleep. Personally, I can hack 4 hrs a night for about three weeks before the canker sores break out. Another couple weeks and the bags start to darken. Add another week and then the irritability threshold breaks. Ten straight weeks and I start to hallucenate.

Idealistically, an adult body (and mind) needs about seven hours a night, give or take an hour depending on how hard you work during the day. Frankly, I perform best after eight hours, but after speaking with multiple students, a full night's rest clearly seems like a pipe dream.
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rhyme
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:04
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I manage fine on 7.... 6 is ok... 5 is tough.
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squali83
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:07
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I have operated on 4-5 hours for about 2 years now. Just find that the day is way too short, after working, hitting the gym and hanging out with my fiancee and friends the time seems to just disappear. I was assuming that going back to school will allow me to have somewhat of a slower paced life....I hope I was not wrong!?
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GMATT73
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:11
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squali83
I have operated on 4-5 hours for about 2 years now. Just find that the day is way too short, after working, hitting the gym and hanging out with my fiancee and friends the time seems to just disappear. I was assuming that going back to school will allow me to have somewhat of a slower paced life....I hope I was not wrong!?
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That's amazing. :shock: What's your daily caffeine consumption level like?
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eazyb81
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:12
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I have always been an 8 hour a night type of guy, but I have a feeling that will be coming to an end once school starts. I normally get tired around 10-10:30, so I am probably going to need a steady supply of coffee and red bull to consistently burn the midnight oil.
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rhyme
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:17
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squali83
I have operated on 4-5 hours for about 2 years now. Just find that the day is way too short, after working, hitting the gym and hanging out with my fiancee and friends the time seems to just disappear. I was assuming that going back to school will allow me to have somewhat of a slower paced life....I hope I was not wrong!?
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2 years? You must look like crap.
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:19
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If the question is "perform at an optimal level" then I would say about 7 hours for me. Certainly, I've gotten by on 4-5 hours for weeks at a time, but I honestly think there are diminishing returns at that point.
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:35
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Some people can get more REM sleep in 5 hours of overall sleep, than others who sleep for 8 overall hours. That's why some people don't need as much sleep, their body is more efficient at racking up REM sleep.

I can do 5 or 6 hours of sleep for a few days but then I start to fall apart, so keeping a good 7-8 hours routine will be necessary to keep up w/ the first semester.
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kidderek
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:36
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8 optimal and cheerful
7 optimal and borderline cranky
6 losing optimum performance and cranky
5 gonna need a siesta
4 can function optimally for a few hours, but will need nap very soon
0 fighting for dear life
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:52
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GMATT73
squali83
I have operated on 4-5 hours for about 2 years now. Just find that the day is way too short, after working, hitting the gym and hanging out with my fiancee and friends the time seems to just disappear. I was assuming that going back to school will allow me to have somewhat of a slower paced life....I hope I was not wrong!?

That's amazing. :shock: What's your daily caffeine consumption level like?
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I drink about 48 oz. of diet soda and that is it. I have been very dedicated with staying in shape for over 5 years now. It is weird but if I miss a week at the gym I feel more run down than if I am operating on 2-3 hours of sleep. I think lifting weights and running is very important to having sufficient energy anyone who works out regularly can attest to the natural high you have when you are serious about eating right and working out.
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 09:55
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rhyme
squali83
I have operated on 4-5 hours for about 2 years now. Just find that the day is way too short, after working, hitting the gym and hanging out with my fiancee and friends the time seems to just disappear. I was assuming that going back to school will allow me to have somewhat of a slower paced life....I hope I was not wrong!?

2 years? You must look like crap.
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Haha, I guess that is all subjective. I have although been involved in modeling locally in DC for the past year. And this little "hobby" has cost me nothing because the photography company pays me for my time (however minimal compensation). But I am scared if I keep up this lifestyle the lack of sleep will catch up and I will probably age quicker than the average bear.
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 10:03
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48 ounces every day? No coffee? Not scared of aspartame?

I stay pretty active w/ various sports and it definitely makes me feel good, but it also makes me crave sleep even more. Especially lifting, which basically tears your muscle fibers which then require more sleep to heal.
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 10:08
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johnnyx9
48 ounces every day? No coffee? Not scared of aspartame?

I stay pretty active w/ various sports and it definitely makes me feel good, but it also makes me crave sleep even more. Especially lifting, which basically tears your muscle fibers which then require more sleep to heal.
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Could be why ever since I left my college days, my gains in the weight room have been limited. I always assumed I was at my plateau, but this makes more sense. Thanks for the good insight.
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 10:21
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A lot of people think eating right and sleeping are 90% of gains (with 10% being the effort you put forth in the weight room).

Man, wish I could get by on fewer hours of sleep. Anybody heard of Modafinil? I've heard of some people using this during finals and other crunch-times. I remember reading (I think on slate.com) about this reporter who tried it and reported the effects, said he basically stayed awake for a few days and never felt sleepy the whole time.

I apologize in advance if this thread spirals into a conversation about Adderall and other "study" pharmeceuticals.
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rhyme
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 10:47
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johnnyx9
A lot of people think eating right and sleeping are 90% of gains (with 10% being the effort you put forth in the weight room).

Man, wish I could get by on fewer hours of sleep. Anybody heard of Modafinil? I've heard of some people using this during finals and other crunch-times. I remember reading (I think on slate.com) about this reporter who tried it and reported the effects, said he basically stayed awake for a few days and never felt sleepy the whole time.

I apologize in advance if this thread spirals into a conversation about Adderall and other "study" pharmeceuticals.
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Seriously modafinil? It's a damn narcolepsy drug.
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 10:54
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Okay, I'll give that a shot.

Kidding, I don't even like drinking red bulls or coffee to study, makes me feel shaky and nervous. I usually just grab a nap instead of reaching for caffeine. I'd rather take a test well-rested and under-prepared than sleep-deprived and prepared. (Hm, maybe that's why my GPA was so low.)

I remember the one time I pulled an "all-nighter" in college, by the time I showed up for the test, I was so tired that I didn't care how I did on the test, I just wanted to get home to sleep. This is probably a sign that I-banking or a hardcore consulting job might not be good jobs for me.
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 11:35
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https://health.howstuffworks.com/sleep-is-so-last-year.htm

I recently read this article... I hope it becomes over the counter soon or else I am not going to be functioning very well in bschool or IB :(

For some reason I need at 9hrs of sleep to function for a full day and would be much happier with 10hrs. Is there something wrong with me? I'm actually thinking about going to see a doctor/sleep clinic to get this checked out.

Is it possible to sleep 8 hrs a night as an ibanker? if I go home and straight to sleep after work, doing nothing else? I hope so.. :?
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 11:40
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Code:
4~5 hours plus an afternoon "catnap"  [ 1 ]


I envy you, my friend.
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johnnyx9
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 12:04
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Fluffydot - I think you're within the range of normal, but might be worth having some blood work done to make sure you're not anemic or have anything else that might be making you tired.

By the way, I'm not a doctor and don't really know what I'm talking about.
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johnnyx9
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MBA and Sleep 22 Mar 2007, 12:07
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Just read that article Fluffy posted on Modafinil, it mentioned something else that the journalist I mentioned wrote about in his article, you don't have a "sleep debt" after staying up for two days, you can just go right back to your normal sleep pattern.
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