When you hear that 8 hours of sleep(or whatever the number you hear is) is the recommended amount, does it matter when and how? I come home from school and go to sleep at about 4pm, wake up at about 9pm, and do whatever i have to do during the day(or night). Then go back to bed anywhere between 2-3am, then wake up again at 6:30am to go to school. Is this "healthy?"

I believe it was Picasso who slept for fifteen minutes every two hours. A genius whose own mind drove him to insanity. Yeah. Its normal.

From what I have read, I agree with Chen. As long as you are getting enough "delta" (or stage 4) sleep, you should be fine.

http://www.sleepdoctor.com/stages.htm

From the link:

Quote:

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Stage 1 Sleep: This is experienced as falling to sleep and is a transition stage between wake and sleep. It usually lasts between 1 and 5 minutes and occupies approximately 2-5 % of a normal night of sleep. This stage is dramatically increased in some insomnia (restless legs) and disorders that produce frequent arousals such as apnea and PLMS.

Stage 2 Sleep: This follows Stage 1 sleep and is the "baseline" of sleep. This stage is part of the 90 minute cycle and occupies approximately 45-60% of sleep.

Stage 3 and 4 or Delta sleep: Stage 2 sleep evolves into "Delta" sleep or "slow wave" sleep in approximately 10-20 minutes and may last 15-30 minutes. It is called "slow wave" sleep because brain activity slows down dramatically from the "theta" rhythm of Stage 2 to a much slower rhythm of 1 to 2 cycles per second called "delta" and the height or amplitude of the waves increases dramatically. In most adults these two stages are completed within the first two 90 minute sleep cycles or within the first three hours of sleep. Contrary to popular belief, it is delta sleep that is the "deepest" stage of sleep (not REM) and the most restorative. It is delta sleep that a sleep-deprived person's brain craves the first and foremost. In children, delta sleep can occupy up to 40% of all sleep time and this is what makes children unwakeable or "dead asleep" during most of the night.

Stage 5: REM (Rapid Eye Movement Sleep): This is a very active stage of sleep. Composes 20-25 % of a normal nights sleep. Breathing, heart rate and brain wave activity quicken. Vivid Dreams can occur. Sleep Specialists call this 5th stage of sleep "REM" rapid eye movement sleep because if one is to watch a person in this stage, their eyes are moving rapidly about. After REM stage, the body usually returns to Stage 2 sleep.

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I think it's normal too. I mean i go through stages where sometimes i will sleep like 10 hours a day and not even move in bed. Then others i'm pretty much up and ready to go by 5 hours. I think it's all a matter of figuring out your own body's wavelength and utilizing it to it's full potential.