Why Do I Sleep 4 to 5 Hours a Day? Understanding My Sleep Struggles

The Mystery of Short Sleep: Why Only 4-5 Hours?

Well, if you're anything like me, you’ve probably asked yourself this question more than once. Why on earth am I sleeping only 4 to 5 hours a night? I know, it sounds insane, right? But it's a real struggle that many people face. At first, I thought it was just a phase, maybe I was overworked, or maybe I just had too much on my mind. But then, I started to realize this wasn’t normal. Why wasn’t I getting those 7-8 hours everyone says you need?

Let’s break this down together, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll see that you’re not alone in this bizarre sleeping pattern.

Sleep Cycle: What’s Happening During Those Short Hours?

Actually, there’s a lot more going on when we sleep than just lying down and "recharging." The sleep cycle has several stages, including deep sleep and REM (Rapid Eye Movement). Even though I sleep only 4 to 5 hours, I started researching whether I was getting enough of these critical stages. Honestly, I was shocked to find out that the quality of sleep matters more than the quantity sometimes. But don’t get me wrong, constantly sleeping so little still isn’t ideal.

It turns out that your body needs at least a few cycles of deep sleep for muscle recovery and brain function. With only 4-5 hours, I’m missing out on a couple of these cycles, which is why I often feel foggy or mentally drained during the day. If you're like me, you might be wondering, "Why can’t I just get through the day without feeling exhausted?" Well, the truth is, your body doesn’t get enough time to restore itself properly.

Could Stress or Anxiety Be the Culprit?

Okay, let’s be real. Stress is probably one of the most common reasons I, and many others, end up tossing and turning at night. Honestly, when things get tough at work or life throws curveballs, I find it nearly impossible to fall asleep before 1 AM. The more I think about it, the more I realize that my sleep issues are often related to stress and anxiety. Maybe you're dealing with the same thing?

How Stress Affects Your Sleep

I was talking to my friend Amy the other day, and she was telling me about her constant lack of sleep. "I just can't switch off at night," she said. "My mind won’t stop racing." Sound familiar? Well, stress activates your "fight or flight" response, which keeps you alert, even when your body needs rest. This makes it harder to fall into that restful deep sleep. I’ve had nights where I’m wide awake, thinking about everything from bills to work deadlines, and before I know it, it’s 4 AM. I think this could definitely explain why I sleep only a few hours.

Could My Lifestyle Choices Be Contributing?

Actually, I’ve realized that some of my habits are probably making things worse. I can’t say I’m perfect in terms of sticking to a healthy routine.

Caffeine and Screen Time: The Hidden Sleep Thieves

A major culprit? Caffeine. Honestly, I’ve always been a fan of my morning coffee, but I never thought about how it could be affecting my sleep at night. Drinking caffeine too late in the day can mess with your ability to fall asleep. But I didn’t stop there—I’d sometimes be scrolling through my phone late into the night, watching videos or reading stuff on social media. As I learned later, the blue light from screens messes with your body’s natural melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep.

The Impact of an Irregular Sleep Schedule

Oh, and don’t even get me started on how unpredictable my sleep schedule has been. Some nights I go to bed early, other nights it’s 2 AM before I get any rest. Your body thrives on consistency, and without a regular sleep schedule, I can tell you firsthand, things get thrown off. I’ve noticed that when I have a routine—going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day—it helps a little bit, but it’s still not perfect.

Is It Genetic? Could I Just Be a Short Sleeper?

Here’s an interesting tidbit: some people are genetically predisposed to need less sleep. These "short sleepers" need only about 4-6 hours of sleep a night and function just fine. I read about it, and honestly, I started to wonder, “Am I one of these people?” My mom always told me she never needed much sleep, and maybe that’s where I got it from.

The Science Behind Short Sleepers

Apparently, there’s a gene called DEC2 that makes some people naturally need less sleep. I won’t lie—I briefly got my hopes up when I first read this. Could I be one of those rare cases? But after doing more research, I realized that even for short sleepers, they are still fully functional. They don’t experience the same cognitive decline that someone like me might if I keep up with only 4-5 hours of sleep for too long.

So, after all this, I’m left wondering: Am I a short sleeper or just someone who hasn’t figured out how to sleep properly? The fact is, it’s probably a bit of both for me—stress, bad habits, and maybe a little bit of genetic influence.

The Bottom Line: Should I Be Worried?

Honestly, I’m still figuring it out. But what I’ve learned is that while some people can function on 4-5 hours of sleep, it’s generally not healthy for most of us. Sleep deprivation can affect your mood, memory, and even your long-term health. So, even if you’re surviving on just a few hours of sleep, it’s worth investigating why it’s happening and what you can do to improve your sleep quality.

If you’re struggling like me, it might be time to tackle stress, adjust your habits, or even see a doctor. Don’t ignore the signs—trust me, I’ve been there, and it’s not fun. But there’s hope! Small changes can make a big difference in how well you sleep.

And hey, if you’ve figured out how to get better sleep with just a few hours, drop me a comment—I could really use some tips!

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.