When should you go to bed? Experts share the perfect time for you
A new survey has revealed just how much sleep Americans lose out on every week.
A new survey from the U.S. makes a solid case regarding what time most Americans should hit the sack after a hard day at work or school.
According to the study by Avocado Green Mattress, 2,000 U.S. adults were polled on their nighttime habits with the results showing the average American doesn’t actually fall asleep sleep until 11:18 pm.
But the journey to their slumber begins much earlier—around 10:15 pm. That’s when most start winding down: brushing teeth, changing into PJs, maybe scanning a few pages of their book. Roughly 21 minutes later, they’re in bed by about 10:36 pm.
Folks typically drift off after around 40 minutes, something which may explain why a lot of us wake up feeling shortchanged. On average, people wake up during the night three times a week, with a common complaint of: “I should’ve gone to sleep earlier.”
Why do Americans delay bedtime?
- 29% say they stall bedtime to wrap up chores or responsibilities.
- 21% confess that the night is simply their favourite time of day.
- 15% drag their heels to put off the next workday.
- 13% cherish these quiet hours to connect with a partner.
Then there are the factors that cut sleep short: 63% blame snoring, while 52% say their partner disrupts their rest.
- 53% must rise earlier to prepare and take kids to school.
- 25% find themselves up later—making lunch or helping with homework.
- 11% simply sleep worse, weighed down by stress tied to the new school term.
When is the best time to go to sleep?
So, is there a “golden hour” to doze off? Not exactly. Sleep experts agree: it’s all about getting 7–9 hours per night, then working backward from your wake-up time to pick a bedtime that fits.
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Regular schedules, a cool and dark room, a device-free buffer of at least 30 minutes before bed, a relaxing wind-down ritual like reading or breathing exercises, and light, non-caffeinated snacks all help in smoothing out the roadmap to dreamland.
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