It may be in style to party at 5 p.m. and head to bed by 9 p.m.—according to Gen Z anyway. You can’t make it through a TikTok scroll without seeing someone’s early bedtime routine video encouraging a healthy wind-down, like shutting off screens, listening to calming music, or doing meditation. Skipping the late night bar crawl might be paying off, though. Using 2022 data from the American Time Survey (ATS), RentCafe found those in their 20s are getting the most sleep.
According to over two million smart-bed customers from Sleep Number, more people are reaping the benefits of an earlier night’s sleep. The average bedtime for younger adults crept down to 10:06 p.m. this January compared to 10:18 p.m. a year prior.
Standard guidelines recommend adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, and many people are trying to hit the hay earlier in order to do so. Are they onto something?
The benefits of going to bed early
The most obvious benefit of going to bed early is that you likely will get more sleep. When you have an early work day, getting to bed by 9 or 10 p.m. can ensure you reach the ideal eight hours of sleep each night. It can sound like a broken record alongside standard health advice, but it’s true: Getting enough sleep each night profoundly effects our physical and emotional health. It can help us age well, feel more energized, and protect us from developing chronic conditions.
You may also get better quality sleep by hitting the hay earlier. The body adjusts to a natural sleep cycle based on the sun and our internal body clock. Due to this, some experts argue that the deepest sleep happens between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Going to bed early also may allow you to enjoy the benefits of being an early bird. Research suggests waking up early has more pros than cons, such as taking advantage of early morning sunlight, enjoying a slower, calmer start to the day, and having time to set an intention. Studies also…