DR. WALLACE: I'm a busy teenager who runs on less sleep than most of my peers. My social life, studies and extracurricular activities such as sports make each week an absolute blur for me.

Consequently, I average only about 6 to 6 1/2 hours of sleep per night. My parents tell me this is not enough sleep and that teenagers need sleep more than adults do, so I should be sleeping at least eight hours a night. I think this is ridiculous, because I'm able to function well in everything that I've been doing. Why should I make any changes if everything's going well? — Keeping Busy and Getting It All Done, via email

KEEPING BUSY AND GETTING IT ALL DONE: Most widely accepted studies do show that teenagers typically need at least eight hours or more of sleep per night, whereas adults need seven or more.

Of course, each individual is different, given their unique body chemistry, metabolism and other physical factors.

Sleeping in on the weekends does not make up for a lack of sleep during the week, so any time you can catch even slightly more sleep during the week is a good thing. In your case, I would strive to get at least seven hours of sleep every night and take note how you feel.

You may find that even one extra hour of sleep gives you benefits in terms of sharpness, energy or productivity that may make your busy life even easier to keep up with. I realize this may sound counterintuitive to you at this point, but I encourage you to give it a try for at least a month, take daily notes and compare the results. You may be pleasantly surprised.

ULTIMATUMS ARE USUALLY RED FLAGS

DR. WALLACE: I'm in the eighth grade, and I have a new boyfriend. He's nice, he treats me well and I really enjoy hanging out with him.

But there is one problem about him that concerns me. He's extremely jealous! My friends are almost all girls, but I do have one boy who I have been good friends with since the first grade, and I still talk to him regularly at school. His parents and my parents are good friends, and we've even gone on family vacations together a few times. He and I are just platonic. We're We've never kissed, held hands or done anything that made us feel awkward around each other for our entire friendship.

But now my new boyfriend wants to forbid me from talking to this boy at school. I don't want to lose my new boyfriend, but it would be extremely rude for me to not talk to my friend that I've had for many years. What should I do? — I'm in an Awkward Situation, via email

I'M IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION: I don't feel your situation is awkward at all. The awkwardness is emanating exclusively from your new boyfriend, not from you or your longstanding friend.

Your current "boyfriend" is acting very immaturely and unreasonably. This type of unwarranted jealousy is indeed a red flag in any relationship, regardless of age. You should have an open discussion with your "boyfriend" and let him know in no uncertain terms that you are allowed to have any friends you would like to have, and that you will talk to any of your friends at any time. Make it clear that your "boyfriend" does not make rules for you.

If he cannot accept that, your best bet would be to stay loyal to your longtime friend and seek to meet a new boyfriend sometime in the future. Never, ever stay in a relationship because of an unreasonable ultimatum someone is imposing upon you.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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