Sleep Habits of Famous Men
What do Bill Gates and Benjamin Franklin have in common? Seven hours of sleep a night, although Franklin was earlier to bed, hitting the hay at 10 P.M., while Gates reportedly turns in at 12 A.M. Thomas Edison got by on five hours a night, beginning at 11 P.M. Winston Churchill also slept five hours a night, but did not retire until 3 A.M.
Churchill loved to sleep and took regular naps during the day. Thomas Edison, on the other hand, regarded sleep as a waste of time. Both lived in the days before recent studies and findings on the necessity and benefits of adequate sleep.
Men Have Trouble Sleeping, Too
A 2017 sleep study found men and women are affected differently by sleep disorders. “Results show that women are more likely than men to have more severe symptoms of depression, trouble sleeping at night, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Women also have a higher degree of difficulty concentrating and remembering things due to sleepiness or tiredness. In contrast, male snoring was more likely than female snoring to force bed partners to sleep in different rooms.”
Women may need more sleep and they may be impacted more by sleep deprivation; however, men have their own sleep issues. Sleep apnea "is generally more common in men or people assigned male at birth," men may be more hesitant to seek out treatment for mental and physical health issues, and men may find their sleep interrupted by problems associated with age such as an enlarged prostate, which cause frequent trips to the bathroom, and night sweats.
Men May Rebound Less Slowly From Lack of Sleep
A 2011 study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine showed men were slower to rebound when they got restorative sleep. Although neither men nor women actually caught up on sleep once they were able to get extra sleep, women came closer to men in catching up.
How Much Sleep Do Men Need?
In 2015, the National Sleep Foundation released the results of a two year research study to update guidelines on how much sleep people need at each age. The study did not distinguish between men and women, finding Adults (26-64) are recommended to have 7-9 hours of sleep a night and Older Adults (65+) are recommended to have 7-8 hours of sleep a night.
How Should Men Prioritize Sleep?
Sleep is a priority. It should not come after you have finished everything else. It should be its own item on your "to-do list" and you should cross it off every night.
Create a Great Sleep Environment
Make sure you have an atmosphere and set of rituals conducive to a great night’s sleep. These include turning off electronics and keeping your bedroom cool, quiet, and dark. We believe the most important part of a great night’s sleep is a clean bed and comfortable bedding. This is where Down Etc® can help.
If it’s what you like, surround yourself with sheets that flatter your complexion and decorative throw pillows, but those are not necessary. What you must have is a clean, comfortable bed and a comfortable pillow that fits your body and the way in which you sleep.
How do you sleep, on your side, your stomach, or your back? That is one of the questions you should ask yourself when picking the perfect pillow. What size pillow suits you? Do you prefer a soft pillow or one that is firm? At Down Etc®, our Pillow Butler® is happy to assist you by asking all of the questions necessary to arrive at the perfect pillow selection.
Once you have invested in the perfect pillow, protect it. We recommend every pillow be covered with a zippered pillow protector. We all spill, sweat, and drool so pillow protectors that can be removed and laundered when soiled are a must. We recommend washing your pillows twice a year if you use pillow protectors. If you do not utilize pillow protectors, you will want to wash your pillow more often. If your family experiences a higher level of allergies or lives in a warmer climate, washing pillows quarterly can help reduce allergy-related symptoms. You should certainly wash pillows immediately if they become soiled. When you are ready to replace your pillows contact us or look through our hotel pillow collection to pick the perfect one!
Updated August 1, 2022
