Research cannot pin point the perfect number of hours that we need to sleep. Different age groups require different amounts of sleep and each individual has different ideal sleep requirements. So, while you may need a good 8 hours, the amount of sleep your partner needs to function at their best

So, how do we know when we are getting enough? Jim Horne from Loughborough University's Sleep Research Centre advises that: "The amount of sleep we require is what we need not to be sleepy in the daytime." It is therefore important to pay attention to your own individual needs by examining how you feel on different amounts of sleep. However, there does appear to be a minimum amount of sleep that most adults need to be healthy and productive, which is at least six hours every night. Children need significantly longer blocks of sleep time the younger they are.

The following table gives you a general guide on appropriate sleep times: