Say Goodnight: The Kids Are All Right

Image from Sawdust City

Finally, a youthful trend that geezers not only understand but can support: 20-somethings are sleeping longer and going to bed earlier. [bold added]

Today’s 18-to-35-year-olds say they understand the link between sleep and health better than people once did, with many seeing the long- and short-term benefits of more shut-eye. Younger people also say they take comfort in seizing control over their bedtime routines, finding solace in saying no to even a late-night dinner.

Businesses have adjusted in turn, with bars adding matinee dance parties and other daytime events.

In 2022, those in their 20s reported getting an average of nine hours and 28 minutes of sleep, according to an analysis of American Time Use Survey data by RentCafe. That is an 8% increase from the eight hours and 47 minutes they said they slept in 2010. Those in their 30s and 40s saw smaller increases.

Bedtimes are also creeping earlier. An analysis of more than two million total Sleep Number smart-bed customers found that those between 18 and 34 went to bed at 10:06 p.m. on average in January, compared with 10:18 p.m. last January.

Your humble blogger is lucky to still be around after 40 years of sleep deprivation and consumption of at least 3 cups of coffee every day to stay awake. It's good to see that newer generations are not repeating our mistakes and have made sleep a priority.

Young people going to bed earlier can also lead to reversing the decline in population, but that's a study for another day.