Is it OK to Sleep Less on Weekdays and More on Weekends?

Is it OK to sleep 11 hours on weekends and 5–6 on weekdays?
– Damon

Our bodies (and minds) need a certain amount of sleep each night to be at their best. Although you might feel great on Monday after a weekend sleepfest, all that shuteye won't help your performance the rest of the week.

Here's why:

Our bodies can only catch up on sleep. They can't store extra sleep to help us function in the days ahead. If you sleep a lot over the weekend but go back to skimping on Monday night, you won't be at your best on Tuesday. You may not notice you're tired, but you won't be operating at your peak. And if you continue this pattern all week, your body will be seriously dragging by Friday.

How will this affect you? Sleep fuels our daily activities, whether it's doing well on tests, competing in sports, mastering skateboard tricks, concentrating while driving, or handling stressful situations. That's why experts recommend that teens get 8–10 hours of sleep a night.

Sticking to a similar sleep schedule during the week and the weekend can help you fall asleep at night and have enough energy during the day.

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.