How long does it take to get the sleep you need?

Sleep Musings #2: How long does it take to get the sleep you need?

How many hours of sleep do you need to feel alert, awake, and fully rested during the day? Some people say seven, some say eight, some say nine. You probably know how many hours you need, but how much time should you set aside for bedtime? What time should you go to bed? My thinking is that, if at all possible, you should try to allow an extra 45 minutes to cover the time it takes to fall asleep, any awakenings that may occur during the night, and a gentle, unhurried awakening. If you need eight hours, allow yourself eight hours, plus 45 minutes. It a more graceful, pleasurable way to sleep.

Sleeping on a tight schedule puts a lot of pressure on you to fall asleep and stay asleep. That feeling of being pressured/pressurized increases arousal and detracts from the quality of your sleep. On any given night, if you can allow more time for sleep you'll be more relaxed, and you'll sleep better! 

How did you sleep last night? What is your experience of sleep?