Most of us know that we should be getting around eight hours of sleep a night, but sometimes it can be hard to stick to that number. If you're finding yourself feeling tired during the day, it might be because you're not getting enough sleep at night. So, how much sleep should Australians be getting? And has that changed over the past few decades? Let's take a look.

How Much Sleep Do We Need?

The amount of sleep we need depends on a variety of factors, including our age, lifestyle, and health. Most adults need around seven to eight hours of sleep a night. However, some people may need as little as five hours or as much as 10 hours of sleep a night. Children and teenagers need even more sleep—between eight and 10 hours for children aged six to 12 years, and between nine and 11 hours for teenagers aged 13 to 18 years.

How Much Sleep Are We Actually Getting?

Although we know how much sleep we should be getting, the reality is that many of us are not meeting those targets. A survey conducted by the Sleep Health Foundation found that 35% of Australians are not getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep a night. And this trend seems to be on the rise; another study found that the number of people sleeping less than seven hours per night has increased by 20% over the past 50 years.

Why Are We Sleeping Less Than Is Recommended?

There are several possible explanations for why we are sleeping less than we used to. One possibility is that we are simply too busy; with work, family commitments, and social obligations, it can be hard to find time to get a full eight hours of sleep. Technology may also play a role; the blue light emitted by our phones and laptops can disrupt our natural sleep cycles, making it harder to fall asleep at night. Whatever the reason, it's important to make sure that you are getting enough rest so that you can function at your best during the day and there are plenty of sleep solutions to help aid you.

How Has Sleep Changed Over the Years?

Interestingly, despite being busier than ever, Australians are sleeping slightly more now than they were 50 years ago. In the 1960s, the average person slept around 6.8 hours per night. These days, it's closer to 6.9 hours. So even though we might feel like we're constantly short on time, at least we're getting a tiny bit more rest than our parents and grandparents did!

Although 35% of Australians are not getting enough sleep and are falling short of the recommended seven to eight hours a night. There are a number of possible explanations for this trend, including our busy lifestyles and technology use. Whatever the reason, it's important to make sure that you are getting as much rest as you can so you can function at your best during the day.