This Is When Adults Should Be Starting Work, According to a Sleep Expert
It's probably no surprise to you that Americans are sleep deprived. It certainly doesn't help that we're constantly connected to tech devices that impede with our natural ability to drift off to sleep, but one sleep expert may actually have found the answer for our tired eyes.
Paul Kelley, a sleep researcher at the University of Oxford, suggests starting work or school later than the typical nine-to-five lifestyle we've become accustomed to. So, instead of showing up groggy to your office at 8 a.m. and in desperate need of coffee, Kelley believes it'd be much more beneficial if employees started work no earlier than 10 a.m. each morning.
Kids could also benefit from sleeping in later. According to Kelley and Business Insider, "children between the ages of eight and 10 should start school no earlier than 8:30 a.m., 16-year-olds should start at or after 10 a.m., and 18-year-olds at 11 a.m. or later."
But it's not just enough to mandate later work and school times. To really reap the benefits of a later start to your day (which includes a lower risk of mental and physical problems like cognitive impairment, anxiety, weight gain, and diabetes) you would need to forgo all devices with bright screens at least an hour before bed, as the light disrupts the brain from producing melatonin, which is a chemical that lets our body know it's time to sleep.
The U.S. Department of Health recently released a study in favor of later start times as well, backing up Kelley's claims.
It's no wonder why kids are always so excited for two-hour delays-the more sleep, the better! Now only if we can convince our bosses to implement 10 a.m. mornings…
[via Business Insider]
