Photo courtesy of Pixabay, CCO

Americans are not getting enough sleep, and that presents an economic, health, and social crisis for the entire country. Studies show that lack of sleep contributes to obesity, poor performance in work and school, and unhealthy lifestyle choices. In the United States, this adds up to a stunning economic cost in lost productivity and health costs, of $400 billion!

More than 1/3 of all Americans are regularly not getting enough sleep. Ideally, you should have at least seven hours of sleep if you want to have a healthy, productive workday. Polls show that in the 1940s Americans averaged eight hours of sleep each night. Today, Americans average over an hour less than that, or 6.8 hours of sleep. And almost 15% of Americans get less than five hours of sleep each night.

Work and Stress

The simple fact is that Americans are working longer hours than ever before. The typical American workweek is now at 44 hours, with a whopping 17% of our workforce putting in 60 hours on the job each week. Combine that with long commutes to and from the workplace and you have very little time for common domestic responsibilities like paying bills and helping with household chores.

Perhaps the biggest change in how Americans work today, compared with 75 years ago, is the increase in late shifts for businesses. In the ‘40s only employees in hospitals, law enforcement, or some factories worked shifts after dark. Today, in our global 24-hour economy, working late into the night or rising before dawn has become a necessity. This has changed the circadian rhythm, or the body’s sleep/wake cycle, for tens of millions of us. And not all of us can adjust to these changes. Insomnia, fatigue, depression, and other symptoms are normal physical and emotional reactions to the disruption of natural sleep patterns.

What We’re Doing Wrong

We have also changed the way we try to relax. Using electronic devices at night, especially just before bed, tricks the brain into think that we are, or should be, awake. The body’s sleep hormone, melatonin, is reduced when we use cell phones or tablets or games late at night, thus making it more difficult to fall asleep.

People also use artificial methods to fall asleep or to stay awake. Americans are in the habit of using various stimulants to produce enough energy to plow through the workday. Cups of coffee and cans of soda are regularly consumed for that little kick or boost to get us going. The chocolate in the desk drawer or vending machine in late afternoon may be just the thing to keep some of us energized until dinnertime. The problem, though, is that the stimulant may remain in the body’s system long enough to prevent a good night’s sleep.

Alcohol, such as a glass of wine or some other kind of nightcap, is commonly employed by Americans to slow us down and relax us before bed. But alcohol is also a source of sugar. The effect often leads to a restless night’s sleep, and people wake up more tired than refreshed.

Sleep habits are established in our youth, and they are difficult to alter. So today, when American children are up late at night to finish homework and then play games before bed, they are establishing a pattern of sleeplessness which they will carry well into their adulthood. They then rise early because most American schools hold classes in the early morning. All of this results in poor eating and other unhealthy habits which will only recycle itself in the future.

Some Remedies

• Encourage school districts to begin classes later in the morning.
• Keep those electronic devices out of the bedroom.
• Limit caffeine, sugar, and alcohol consumption.
• Take a break from work with a walk or some other form or exercise.
• Employers should find ways to allow employees to work from home, and reduce work hours.
• Invest in a new mattress. Get a comfortable night’s sleep.