We have all been brought up to believe that the traditional eight hours sleep a night is vital if we want to wake up feeling refreshed and alert. Many of us even go to bed earlier than we would naturally want to, as we feel brainwashed by this point of view.
The truth is, however, that many people just do not need eight hours every night, and some people can still be at their optimal performance level with five or six hours.
Other factors to take into consideration are the amount of television that you watch, or computer games that you play. What you eat and drink are also very important, as too much rich food eaten too late or too much alcohol can have a considerable effect on your sleep pattern.
There is no point in forcing yourself to go to bed only to stay awake with a heavy stomach or feeling dehydrated.
You really have to do what is right for your mind and your body. Everybody is very different and you must experiment to find the optimal sleep pattern for your body and your lifestyle.