Good Sleep is at the very core of our well-being. Sleep too little, or too light, and the effects will soon spread to all areas of your existence. This is particularly relevant when you are trying to stay in shape and improve your quality of life. Without a good night’s sleep, it is difficult to summon the motivation to exercise, to prepare food properly, to plan healthy meals for you and your family. Your cortisol levels rise, which increases your desire for more food. This is just the start of it: sleep deprivation is a hormonal nightmare that will play havoc with your appetite.

Of course, sleep itself depends on your broader lifestyle. Not surprisingly, we see some big disparities in the way that people live across the States. In more rural areas, folk are turning in not so long after dark, while New York – the city that claims not to sleep! – has an average lights-out time of just before midnight. Regardless where you live, it is healthy to listen to your body and do what works for you. Some people are naturally night owls, while some are more attuned to the rising of the sun.

But one element that is consistently alarming across the country, is the total number of hours slept.  Seven hours is considered the absolute minimum ‘normal’ amount of sleep required by a healthy adult – though some people may genuinely need up to nine hours. So it is somewhat shocking to see how close to the bone many are cutting it, with most areas averaging just over seven hours per night, and areas such as Nevada and New Mexico dipping dangerously below that figure.

A new infographic from homes.com provides a great visual guide to the way America sleeps from region to region. It’s a great prompt to think about the way you regulate your sleep, and clicking through will also guide you to some tips on how to get a better night. Check it out, get your sleep in order, and the rest of your health regime should get a heck of a lot easier!

What is also interesting is which states they found to struggle with going to sleep.

Are you in one of those states struggling to sleep at night?

The post What Time Does America Go To Bed? appeared first on Ask Registered Dietitian Jayson Hunter.