It❜s Official: Women Need More Sleep Than Men

By: Phoebe Ackland, ellaslist

Science has proven what women have been trying to tell the world for years: we need more sleep than men!

According to sleep science expert Dr. Jim Horne's new book Sleepfaring: The Secrets and Science of a Good Night's Sleep, women do in fact need more sleep than men- but only about 20 minutes. Why? Well, sleep is basically a way your brains recovers after a long day of thinking, multi-tasking and decision-making. Because women supposedly work their brains more in this respect, they need a little extra repair time.

We Get Less Than Men, Despite Needing More

Horne's research indicated then even though women need more sleep, 18% of them are reporting poor sleep, compared to 8% of men. This lack of quality sleep for females, according to the Sleep Foundation, could be blamed on the following:

• Sleep disturbances during pregnancy due to excess weight and position of the fetus.
• Difficulty sleeping during menopause due to hot flashes.
• Being woken up and moved around on the bed by the partner. (Men tend to be larger than women)
• Worrying about problems and losing sleep as a result.

So what can women do to try to reclaim some of their (much-needed!) sleep? The solution could lie with regular exercise, sticking to bed and wakeup times, limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, and making your bedroom and bed a comfy, sleep time oasis. 

The sample size was only small (210 women and men), and men with complex day jobs requiring demanding thinking and decision-making may also need the same (and dads of young kids too!), but heck, us girls are happy to run with this little pearl of wisdom. Treat yourselves to a well-deserved sleep-in tomorrow morning, ladies!