Nearly One in Three Americans Sacrifice Sleep on Election Night

Amidst an election cycle shrouded in uncertainty, compounded by a pandemic, sleep may be a casualty. In fact, 32% of Americans report they typically feel more tired than usual the day after election night, according to a survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). In addition, those on the east coast are slightly more likely to be “extremely tired” (12%) than those on the west coast (10%), as the timing of results announcements comes later in the evening.

“Election night stressors and non-stop news coverage can create an environment that is not conducive to healthy sleep. Not only are individuals more likely to stay up past their bedtime to see election results, they are more likely to consume coverage across multiple platforms simultaneously – TVs, mobile phones and other electronic devices,” said Dr. Kannan Ramar, president of the AASM.  “Blue light emitted by screens prevents the production of melatonin, the hormone which signals to the brain that it’s time for sleep. This physical impact of blue light exposure, combined with the mental and emotional toll of election anxiety, can fuel a state of mind which inhibits sleep.”

Below are tips from the AASM to achieve restful sleep on election night and wake prepared for the day ahead:

• Avoid consuming caffeine six hours before your anticipated bedtime to ensure sleep is not impacted.
• Avoid alcohol, as it can induce sleep and impact your sleep cycle and quality.
• Watch election night coverage on a television outside of the bedroom to minimize blue light exposure and reinforce the bedroom as a space for sleep.
• Keep your phone out of the bedroom to resist the temptation of social media.
• Obtain a minimum of seven hours of sleep.
• Head outdoors the next morning, as sunlight exposure will help regulate your circadian rhythm.

To download the AASM Sleep Prioritization Survey – After Election Night report, click here. More information about the importance of sleep and your health is available from the AASM at www.SleepEducation.org.

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About the Survey

The September 2019 AASM Sleep Prioritization Survey involved 2,003 adult participants in the U.S. The margin of error is +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence interval of 95 percent. Atomik Research, an independent market research agency, conducted the survey.

About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Established in 1975, the AASM advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM has a combined membership of 11,000 accredited member sleep centers and individual members, including physicians, scientists and other health care professionals (aasm.org).