Sleep is an essential part of our lives. We spend about a third of our lives sleeping. But how many hours exactly do we spend in bed? And how does this compare to previous generations? This article will explore the fascinating data around how much time humans spend sleeping and resting in bed.
How Many Hours Do Humans Spend Asleep?
According to surveys and research studies, the average American sleeps around 6.8 hours per night during the week. However, that varies significantly based on age groups. Newborns tend to sleep around 16-18 hours per day. Preschool-aged children sleep around 11-12 hours. Teenagers average only 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Adults tend to sleep less the older they get – around 7-9 hours per night for early and middle adulthood, and only 6-7 hours for those over 65.
So in total hours, assuming an average life expectancy of around 78 years in the US, the average person will spend about 229,680 hours asleep over their lifetime. That’s about 26 years of your life sleeping!
How Has Sleep Changed Over Generations?
The amount of sleep humans get has changed over the generations. Pre-industrial humans were found to sleep in two distinct segments, referred to as first and second sleep. There was a period of 1-2 hours of wakefulness between the two sleep periods at night. The total amount of nightly sleep was around 9 hours total.
After industrialization, sleep started being consolidated into one longer 7-8 hour period at night. Electric lighting allowing later bedtimes is believed to have contributed to this change. The 20th century saw sleep durations decline even further, down to the 6-7 hour average we see today.
Causes For Declining Sleep Durations
Some of the potential reasons sleep has declined over the generations include:
- Electric lighting and devices keeping people stimulated later at night
- Increased work and social obligations leading to going to bed later
- Work schedules forcing people to wake up earlier
- More anxiety/stress leading to difficulties falling and staying asleep
This reduction in sleep time may have negative health and productivity consequences that we are still trying to fully understand.
How Many Hours Are Spent in Bed?
The number of hours spent asleep is one thing, but how much time do people spend in bed total? This includes the time spent trying to fall asleep, time awake in the middle of the night, and time spent lounging in bed after waking up.
Research has found that people tend to spend around 8.5 hours total in bed in order to get about 7 hours of actual sleep. However, this varies based on the individual’s sleep needs and habits.
Here is breakdown by age groups:
| Age Group | Average Time in Bed |
|---|---|
| Teenagers | 9 hours |
| Younger adults | 8.5 hours |
| Middle-aged adults | 8 hours |
| Older adults | 8.5-9 hours |
As you can see, most groups tend to spend around 8-9 hours per day in bed on average.
Factors That Influence Time Spent in Bed
Some factors that can influence the total time an individual spends in bed include:
- Quality of mattress and pillow – better quality can lead to less tossing/turning
- Noise, light, and temperature of bedroom – optimal sleep environment can improve sleep
- Health conditions like sleep apnea or insomnia
- Level of stress/anxiety
- Use of electronics before bed
- Consumption of caffeine, alcohol or heavy foods before bed
- Whether someone has a bed partner or pets in the bed
As you can see, there are many lifestyle factors that can impact how much time you need in bed to feel rested. Improving sleep hygiene can help optimize your sleep time.
How Do We Spend Those Hours in Bed?
Now you might be wondering – what exactly are people doing during those 8 or so hours spent in bed each night? Let’s break it down:
Falling Asleep
On average, it takes people 10-20 minutes to fall asleep once getting into bed. However, it can take some people much longer, even hours, if they have insomnia. The process of falling asleep goes through several stages, starting with light sleep and eventually reaching deep REM sleep.
Deep Sleep
We spend about 2-3 hours per night in deep, restorative slow-wave sleep. This stage is important for muscle repair, immune function, hormone regulation, and energy. As we age, the amount of deep sleep decreases.
REM Sleep
REM (rapid eye movement) sleep accounts for about 25% of sleep in adults. This is when dreaming occurs. REM sleep is critical for cognitive function, emotional regulation, memory consolidation, and creativity. We cycle through REM periods several times during the night, with increasing length later in the sleep period.
Light Sleep
Light sleep accounts for about 50% of the overall sleep time for most adults. During light sleep, your heart rate, breathing rate, and brain waves slow down compared to wakefulness. However, you can still be easily awoken. Light sleep predominates in the earlier and later hours of the night.
Awakenings
It’s normal to briefly wake up several times during the night, even if you don’t remember. On average, the typical person will wake up 6-8 times per night. However, with normal sleep you fall quickly back asleep within just a few minutes.
For people with sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea, awakenings might be prolonged or frequent, leading to sleep disruption.
Waking up
After your final REM cycle, you’ll spend the last hour or so of sleep in a light stage as your body naturally transitions to wakefulness. Most people wake up around the same time each morning, determined by their circadian rhythm. Natural light signals also play a role in waking up.
Some people like to lounge or doze in bed after waking up. But spending too long awake in bed can interfere with your sleep schedule. Experts recommend keeping your wake-up time consistent.
Conclusion
To summarize key points:
- Adults spend around 26 years of their life sleeping
- Sleep durations have declined from 9 hours in pre-industrial times to around 7 hours today
- Most people need around 8-9 hours total time in bed to get sufficient sleep
- Bedtime is spent transitioning through various sleep stages like deep, REM, and light sleep
The amount of sleep needed varies between individuals based on genetics, environment, and habits. If you are having trouble feeling rested, speak to your doctor about improving “sleep hygiene” through reducing lights, noise, and inconsistent bedtimes.
Sleep is a vital pillar of our overall health and wellbeing. Prioritizing getting quality sleep ensures we have energy, focus, stable moods, a healthy immune system, and improved longevity. So take the time to assess if you are giving yourself enough time in bed to unwind and recharge.