Sleep

Although individuals can vary slightly, and perhaps babies need more than the elderly, it is a good assumption that almost all of us need 8 hours of sleep.

We can combine with some forms of mediation to make up 8 hours. For instance 6 hours of sleep and 2 hours of meditation add up to our needed 8 hours. But in every 24 period we all need 8 hours.

For me 4-6 hours seems to be enough, as long as I get enough mediation in to balance it during the same day. I don't recommend less than 4 straight hours, and that's assuming that we really sleep in those 4 hours and sleep well. If we don't fall asleep right away or don't sleep well 6 is a minimum no matter how much meditation we try during the day. This also assumes that we meditate well enough to replace the sleep as well. It could be that we need mediation and still 8 hours of sleep too.

I like to meditate when I first get up. In fact, I usually just scoot up onto my pillow right there in the bed and get in my first hour of meditation before I slide out of bed for some my light exercise routine. Then another hour or two sometime during the day is a wonderful practice for me.