Why Does This Generation Have Trouble Sleeping?

The problem with this generation’s sleep deprivation is so pronounced that they are referred to as "The Tired Generation.” On average, a normal adult needs 7 – 8 hrs of sleep a night, a young adult needs 7 – 9 hrs, and teenagers require an extended 8 – 10 hrs of sleep for optimal health.

However, at least 85% of the global population, especially teenagers, are not getting the amount of sleep they need. Because of this, it is believed that teens and adults in this generation are twice as likely to experience constant exhaustion than people of their age 20 years ago.

Despite the development of the best mattress technologies and increasing awareness of getting quality sleep, sleep deprivation is a serious condition today. Not only does it affect one’s performance, focus, and overall productivity at work or school, but it also increases the likelihood of accidents and poses severe health threats.

Lack of sleep is also directly linked to many life-threatening disorders, including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and an increased risk of stroke. In later stages of life, poor sleep can develop sexual dysfunction, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cognitive disorders.

With this generation having so much impact from sleep deprivation, it now begs the question: why?

Technology

At least 8 of 10 millennials sleep with a cell phone glowing by the bed, poised with texts, phone calls, emails, songs, news, videos, games, and wake-up jingles. Some even stay on the phone until they doze off.

The problem with using devices before bed is that it lets the blue light go into your eyes. This blue spectrum causes a special physiological response of alertness, where our body is cued to be awake even without us knowing.

In addition, the constant stream of technology before bed also means being overly loaded with information, influencing how you feel before bed. Especially being exposed to continuous bad news can make you feel anxious, stressed, and exhausted, making it rather impossible to ensure a good night’s sleep.

Hustle Culture

This generation has been taught that hard work will get them ahead, which has sadly let them invest less time in self-care. Especially with the stagnant wages and rising inflations worldwide, the working crowd and even young adults are persuaded to pick a side hustle.

This has made them struggle to reconcile expectations with reality. Unfortunately, as a result, many don’t give themselves enough downtime or proper sleep for recovery, increasing the risk of burnout.

Similarly, constantly checking your email when you get home can make it harder to unwind and prepare for bedtime. Some even get tempted to take pending work home and finish them in the comfort of their mattress. This can create a mental association between bedtime and sleep, interfering with sleep patterns and a healthy work-life balance.

Poor Coping Behaviors

All the stress associated with the widespread hustle culture and increasing financial challenges has led to poor coping behaviors like unhealthy diet and overconsumption of alcohol or caffeine, all of which wreak havoc on one’s sleep cycle.

The typical diet of the working class looks something like a bagel for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and pasta or pizza for dinner. All these food choices are high in refined carbs and low in fiber, which can easily lead to blood sugar highs and lows. An unhealthy imbalance in blood sugar levels can interfere with your sleep patterns and how energetic you feel throughout the day.

Even though this generation values health, they are more likely to dine out and snack more frequently when compared to previous generations. These patterns indicate that healthy choices aren’t always happening, which can possibly interfere with their metabolism and digestion mechanism – as a result, depriving them of restful and quality sleep.