The sleep gap
Friday, Sep 19, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Atlantic…
Though Americans across the economic spectrum are sleeping less these days, people in the lowest income quintile, and people who never finished high school, are far more likely to get less than seven hours of shut-eye per night. About half of people in households making less than $30,000 sleep six or fewer hours per night, while only a third of those making $75,000 or more do.
“We all have sleep problems,” McCalman says, speaking of his fellow airport workers. “Everyone who is doing two jobs has a sleep problem.”
* The chart…
When I was a young boy, my dad always worked at least two jobs and often three to make ends meet. I don’t know how he did it.
- too obvious - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 9:41 am:
Interesting. But Rich, what does this have to do with today being Talk Like A Pirate Day?
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 9:48 am:
Legal recreational marijuana would fix that problem.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 9:58 am:
This relates to one of the false stereotypes of poor people, that they’re poor because they don’t work hard enough and are lazy. Lots of poor people work very hard, yet they’re demonized by some because they don’t want their families to go without food and medical care, so they get government assistance.
- MrJM - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 10:01 am:
“When I was a young boy, my dad always worked at least two jobs and often three to make ends meet. I don’t know how he did it.”
For a time when I was a kid, my dad kept the ranch going and worked construction on a federal building during the day — and then drove a semi hauling propane at night.* As I recall, he got a ride to and from the construction site and napped in the car.
He did it all winter long. I couldn’t have done it for a weekend.
– MrJM
*My poor mom didn’t sleep much during that stretch either.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 10:03 am:
There is not only a sleep gap but often a nutrition gap as well.
Grandson of Man nails it regarding stereotypes.
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 10:20 am:
FKA, you’re right. Sleeping disorders and eating disorders feed into one another and severely affect overall health. Combating the fatigue with nicotine and caffeine adds to the imbalance. If you can get your sleeping schedule right, you can handle a lot of the other maladies.
Rich, my old man worked like a fiend too. He died in his early 70s, and honestly thought that was a good full life. It wasn’t. He loved working and thought of retirement as a step toward death. Things have changed. Sleep well all. It’s a good health decision.
- RNUG - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 10:24 am:
addiction … not addition
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 10:30 am:
Beautifully said, @A guy…
- lake county democrat - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 10:48 am:
PS - here’s a great book about the benefits of sleep: http://books.google.com/books?id=CkMdavlhMGIC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
- Mason born - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 10:51 am:
I wonder how this correlates with stage of family development. I’ve hit all three of those income brackets and with the exception of Marines and DOC 11-7 i don’t remember my sleep time shifting that much. Now once my Boys were born sleep became a huge luxury. I am assuming some in the lower and middle brackets are likely to be younger while the higher brackets being farther along in life.