8 hours sleep would be awesome, but my goal is to at least have restful low stimulus time. As in off computer and work stuff. I have convinced myself that reclining in bed reading is just as useful to my brain as sleeping. Don't tell me otherwise, please.

I think I'm on the high end of how much I need--if I consistently get less than 8 hours I am a lot more prone to migraines.

In a perfect world, I would get 9 - 10 hours of sleep, because I've been running on a deficit for so long that my body is constantly trying to catch up.

In the real world, I can get by on 6 hours. I'll be slow and a little cranky, but I can do it.

I would snap after about three days with 6 hours sleep.

I have convinced myself that reclining in bed reading is just as useful to my brain as sleeping.

I figure if I can't sleep, resting may not be as good but it's better than being up trying to do stuff.

I would snap after about three days with 6 hours sleep.

Yeah, I might not even make it to 2 days.

I really need the time change to happen so my brain can get a little re-set.

I am unhappy when I get less than 7.5 hours!

2 pregnancies and 3-1/2 years of nursing leaves me so very grateful for solid blocks of sleep of any duration over 4-5 hours. I went for several years without a decent block of sleep. It takes a real toll on the body and mind. I think that is why I am so insistent now that I have only myself to blame if I don't get the sleep I need. Sleep, it is such good stuff.

ltc is such a good sleeper, that I really can't complain too much. But I'm still exhausted. Generally she'll sleep from 10 to 3 and then post 3 am feeding until 6 or 7. And occasionally she'll go back to sleep until 9 after that feeding.

Yeah, so I don't get enough sleep, I think that's confirmed. But I don't see how there's time for more sleep in my schedule unless I go to drastic measures like quitting my job, and then the struggle to live on one income will be just as stressful as the struggle to work full time and do a really crappy job of running my house. In fact the job and the crappy housekeeping might be easier.

I notice that when people suggest to me that I should take a day off or take a little "me" time, they don't actually offer to come over and watch the kids or clean my house or cook my dinner or whatever. Even my husband. He'll say "don't do the dishes" or "I'll take care of the laundry" or whatever but he won't actually do them himself so I'm still stuck doing two days worth of work the next day.

In the real world, I can get by on 6 hours. I'll be slow and a little cranky, but I can do it.

Pretty much. I mean, I'm a lot happier when I get 8 hours sleep, but I don't get that most days.

I think I normally get 6 1/2 to 7 hours of sleep, with maybe another 45 minutes of dozing between alarms. In hot weather I also sleep in on weekend mornings, but if it's cool or cold I wake up early and fairly alert.