To think that sleep patterns are based on responsibility not generation!

[greenmarsupial]

apple.news/Az_fyyKpzSqubCI2mWFTvow

I slept like a Boomer for a week – I was a mess
Kia-Elise Green, 21, usually tucks herself into bed at 9pm but took up the habits of her older relatives - against the advice of sleep experts, who say Gen Z sleep habits are healthier

This article really annoyed me this morning, I don't know why it had to be so divisive (obviously apart from the click-baity title!). I'm not one to define people by their generations but am using the language from the article.

I have a more 'boomer' pattern according to this although I am a 'millennial'. I have a full time job and youngish children so going to bed at 8pm or starting my 'skincare and wind-down routine' at 7.30pm just isn't going to happen. By the time I've cooked, done club runs and prepped for the next day plus maybe done some work in the evening I would be heading to bed after 11pm which is quite normal among my friends.

Is it the case that younger people prioritise sleep and wellness (not a bad thing!) or js it just a matter of being at the stage of life where they have the time?

I can't imagine many 21 year old going to bed at 9pm tbh!

I work with plenty of early 20s and, aside from us not finishing work until after 9pm anyway, they're all planning nights out for the days off!

That's reassuring! I definitely wasn't in bed at 9pm when I was 21

I think it must be a very small section who are actually in bed that early (most were probably too busy partying or working late to complete the survey 🤣)

Completely disregards the issue that people have very unique sleep needs. It doesn't really matter what time one goes to bed, as long as they get sufficient sleep overall. I have not come across any definitive research that says that either way is healthier. I need 9,5h of sleep so if I want to get up earlier, I need to go to bed earlier. Yes, I can't always go to bed early enough which is why I catch up on sleep over the weekend where possible (which may or may not include a mid-morning nap) or sleep a little later in the morning.
There is some research that says that fewer than 7h of sleep over time correlates with higher risk of morbidity but the direction of correlation is not established. It could be that limited sleep causes morbidities or it may be that morbidities are preventing people form sleeping.
Our sleeping habits changed massively since the industrial revolution and it doesn't appear that any sort of forced schedule is massively beneficial.

Are you saying that boomers are to blame if other people don't sleep well?

I can barely get my 12yos to bed at 9pm. I have friends who go to bed at 9.30am and others who go to bed at midnight. Nothing to do with our generation, but work patterns and whether we are night owls or larks surely?

Gen Z are the dullest generation of all time 😂

I don't think it has much to do with generation to be honest. People's sleep patterns and needs will vary widely, depending on all sorts of things.

I am 37 and generally go to bed around 9.30pm on week days. I am up at 5.45am. I read for about half an hour. I would struggle going to bed at 11pm. For someone else, the routine may be completely different.

Good point, my kids are terrible at going to bed - I'm not sure what generation that makes them 😂

I agree, it's all about work patterns and when it's practical to sleep really.

This is really interesting- the history of sleep would be good to read up on.

“adults between 18 and 24 go to bed, on average, at 10.06pm”

I just can’t believe this to be true. Maybe they “go to bed” but are actually watching Netflix or scrolling TikTok. There’s just no way that’s an average time to go to sleep for that age group.

OMG aren’t they just? And with all these healthy habits they are forming plus advances in medical science they are going to be living for at least 150 years boring everyone else’s socks off…

I find that really weird. Surely a lot of the time sleep patterns are based on your age, lifestyle and personality. Not your generation.
My parents were boomers. My mum went to bed on average around 1am. My dad went around 9pm. They did this their whole lives regardless of jobs and including into retirement.

Actually now you mention it, my parents sleep patterns are quite annoying. They are boomers if we are continuing with the generational tracking. They have a mid-afternoon nap now that they are retired but will do this even if they don't get home until 6ish. Then they can't possibly go to bed until 12/1am.

The younger generation do things differently and in some respects have healthier behaviours. Apparently, they drink, smoke and have less sex than previous generations. I can believe they go to bed at 9pm.

My sleep patterns ate completely governed by the fact I don't get home from the kids extra curricular activities until 9pm some nights... and need to be awake at 6.30 to get them sorted for school.

I often need to finish work for the night after getting home as well.. that can take an hour or so.

I agree. I'm 59..I get up for work between 4.35 and 4.50 am, and I need about 7 and a half hours sleep. I'm in bed at 9, read for a while, lights out at 9.30 am. I'm not going to bed at 11 pm/midnight!!