In 2017, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings made a striking admission: his company’s biggest competitor wasn’t HBO or Amazon — it was sleep. That revelation horrified sleep scientists, but it crystallized a growing crisis. Americans are sleeping less than ever, and the consequences are devastating.
A sweeping feature in Washingtonian magazine examines how our collective sleep deprivation became a public health emergency — and why help may finally be on the way. The article features insights from Nancy Rothstein, The Sleep Ambassador, alongside leading sleep researchers and physicians who are working to shift the cultural narrative around rest.
Key Takeaways
- Sleep has dropped dramatically: Average sleep duration has fallen from nine hours a night a century ago to just seven today, with over a third of American adults regularly not getting enough sleep.
- The health consequences are severe: Sleep deprivation is linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, depression, dementia, and even DNA changes associated with accelerated aging.
- Drowsy driving kills: One person dies every hour in the United States from a fatigue-related traffic accident.
- The wellness movement is helping: Cultural figures like Arianna Huffington and professionals like Nancy Rothstein are bringing sleep into the mainstream conversation, making it acceptable — even admirable — to prioritize rest.
- Schools are starting to adapt: Pushed by pediatricians’ recommendations, some school districts are finally moving start times later, leading to improved attendance and academic performance.
The cultural shift toward valuing sleep is underway, but there’s still work to be done. Explore our sleep resources for evidence-based strategies, or learn about personalized coaching to transform your relationship with sleep.
Read the Full Article on Washingtonian →