A Four-Day Week: Is America Ready?
As alluring as a calendar filled with three-day weekends may seem, research shows that short school weeks can have educational and health risks for students, but also benefits for them and for school districts that make the change. Do the benefits of the condensed week outweigh the costs?
May 25, 2022 Los Angeles Times
Think We Should Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent? Sleep Scientist Busts 5 Tired Myths
Permanent daylight saving time is widely favored by the public, and the House of Representatives may or may not follow the Senate in its recent approval of such a change in law. But that delicious extra hour of evening recreation in the spring and summer comes at a major cost to people's sleep, mood, alertness, and productivity for the remainder of the year.
Apr 25, 2022 USA Today
For Valentine's Day, a Good Night's Sleep May Be the Best Gift
With Valentine's Day approaching, many may be pondering traditional gift-giving strategies. Maybe it's flowers, chocolates, or jewelry? But consider this: As we continue to endure the challenges of pandemic living, perhaps the greatest gift you could give to your partner (and yourself) is a good night of sleep.
Feb 11, 2022 Sleep Education
Why the Best Valentine's Day Gift Is a Good Night of Sleep
There are some habits and behaviors that help promote sleep. There are some habits and behaviors that get in the way of sleep. If you and your partner are looking to improve your shared sleep together, you might start by looking at how well, or not well, your individual habits and behaviors are working for you.
Feb 11, 2022 Thrive Global
How Creating a Pillow Talk Ritual Can Help You Get a Good Night's Rest
Working to bolster your sleep can bolster your relationship quality, and vice versa, and individually or collectively, they can both bolster your health. A simple technique can help build a habit around connecting with your partner.
Jul 6, 2021 Thrive Global
How to Sleep Better Together (or Not): Advice for Sleep-Deprived Couples
There are many reasons why couples are increasingly choosing to sleep apart. When couples work collaboratively to find the sleep solutions that help them both get better sleep, it can improve their shared lives together in and out of bed.
Jun 3, 2021 TIME
Why Couples Sleeping Apart Is Sometimes a Good Thing
Sleep occupies a major part of a couples' shared experience. When we are well-slept we are happier, more empathic, better communicators, and better problem-solvers, all critical building blocks of healthy relationships.
Apr 28, 2021 Newsweek
Beyond Sweatpants: Waking Up in a Post–COVID-19 World
When it comes to morning wake schedules, adjusting to post–COVID-19 life may be a challenge. Taking small steps now may help you prepare for the shock of returning to the morning rush.
Apr 14, 2021 Psychology Today
Don't Let 'Springing Forward' Set You Back in Your Relationship
When we're sleep-deprived, we're more irritable, more prone to conflict, our communication skills suffer, and we're less empathic. Here are five tips to help you protect the health of your body and your relationship as you and your partner weather the storm of daylight saving time.
Mar 10, 2021 Psychology Today
The COVID-19 Bed-Spread
Sleep science has traditionally viewed sleep as an individual phenomenon. But how well (or poorly) we sleep is clearly tied to the quality of our closest relationships. COVID-19 has further highlighted the critical importance of both healthy sleep and healthy relationships.
Feb 9, 2021 Psychology Today
Other Voices: Striking Rates of Food Insecurity in the Hill District and Homewood
The number of Americans experiencing food insecurity has increased since the pandemic began. And rates are higher among African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and Alaska Natives. Proactive and aggressive policy actions could help reduce the inequities in places like Pittsburgh's Hill District and Homewood neighborhoods.
Feb 9, 2021 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
When In Doubt, Do What Doesn't Come Naturally
When we are feeling anxious or depressed or otherwise bad, we experience a variety of urges toward things that we think will make us feel better, but ultimately make us feel worse. Connecting with a friend, exercising, accomplishing a task, and helping others are some things that can actually help.
Nov 5, 2020 Thrive Global
School May Be Suspended, but Sleep Schedules Shouldn't Be
People sleep better when they follow consistent daily and nightly routines. These days, the school bell isn't ringing for most of our kids, and it's up to parents to ensure that children and teens get the sleep they need during these stressful and uncertain times.
Mar 31, 2020 TED.com
Is Sleeping in Separate Beds Bad for Your Relationship? A Sleep Scientist Answers
Sleep occupies about one-third of our lives, and there isn't a one-size-fits all sleeping strategy for all couples. That said, all couples should make sleep a priority—for both of them. That could mean sleeping apart.
Mar 24, 2020 TED.com
Why Prioritizing Sleep in the Time of Coronavirus Is So Important
The coronavirus has required many people to drastically alter their daily schedules, which can wreak havoc on sleep. But there are simple strategies that can help support sleep and well-being during this trying time.
Mar 17, 2020 Thrive Global
Teens Are Sleep Deprived; Later School Start Times Could Help
Sleep deprivation among American teens is a major public health problem. Teens in school districts with later start times get more sleep and are more likely to show up for school. They do better academically, and show improvements in their mental and physical health.
Mar 4, 2020 The Park Record
Teens Are Driven to Stay Up Late, but Why?
That adolescents have a biologically driven delay in their sleep-wake schedules is uncontested. In fact, this is observed across cultures, including those with limited access to technology. But why this occurs is a tougher nut to crack. There are many issues pertaining to human biology that remain a mystery even to scientists and physicians.
Jan 30, 2020 Thrive Global
How to Avoid the Season of Regret
The holiday season can bring with it not only the sting of cold air, but also the sting of regret. Regret is a slippery slope for mental health. RAND's Wendy Troxel shares simple, science-backed strategies to dodge year-end regrets.
Dec 20, 2019 Thrive Global
I'm a Sleep Specialist. Here's How I Prepare My Two Teenagers for the First Day of School
Sleep deprivation has measurable negative effects on teens' behavior and health. Early school start times make it difficult for teens to get sufficient sleep. A RAND sleep expert shares how she helps her teens transition from summer back to waking up early for school.
Aug 15, 2019 Thrive Global
Sleep Deprivation Could Do Long-Term Damage to Migrant Children
The challenges faced by detained children at the U.S. southern border are immense. Sleep disruption may significantly hinder their ability to function physically and mentally. Policymakers shouldn't overlook the importance of providing appropriate sleeping conditions.
Jul 22, 2019 Dallas Morning News
Teens Are Driving Drowsy Every Day, and That's Dangerous
About 1 in 10 car crashes are caused by drowsy driving, and young drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 account for more than half of them. Many parents unwittingly allow their teens to drive while tired on a daily basis.
Mar 12, 2018 Salt Lake Tribune
Good Parenting or Good Policy? Both Are Needed to Curb the Epidemic of Teen Sleep Loss
More rest improves teens' well-being, public safety, and academic performance. Later school start times promote better sleep for teens. School districts, communities, and parents should consider multi-pronged strategies that start with a later school bell.
Jan 27, 2018 USA Today
Debunking 5 Myths of Sleeping Together
About a third of American adults choose not to sleep with their partner, and evidence suggests that their ranks are growing. This decision often results in social stigma, including some dubious assumptions that sleeping apart is a sign of a sexless or otherwise unhappy marriage.
Sep 27, 2017 Media Planet
The Early Bird Catches the Worm? Probably Not, Says Science on School Start Times
School start times are becoming a hotly debated topic across the United States. Starting middle and high schools at 8:30 a.m. would improve teen health, and the economic benefits of this shift would likely outweigh the costs.
Sep 12, 2017 Thrive Global
If Teenagers Get More Sleep, California Could Gain Billions
Two key effects of better-rested teens are improved academic performance and reduced motor vehicle crashes. Delaying school start times to 8:30 a.m. could result in economic benefits that would be realized within a matter of years — $10 billion in California alone.
Sep 7, 2017 Los Angeles Times
Tired but Wired Youth: A Toxic Combination
The recent death of a South Carolina teen, reportedly of a caffeine overdose, is both tragic and avoidable. It should be a wake-up call for all Americans. Getting sufficient sleep should be a top health priority.
May 18, 2017 Thrive Global
Why Early School Start Times Are a Threat to Public Health
Sleep-deprived teens are more likely to be involved in motor vehicle crashes and to abuse drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes — all of which are public health concerns. But delaying school start times remains challenging for many districts.
Apr 20, 2017 Thrive Global
How Businesses Can Take the Lead in Getting People to Sleep More
Insufficient sleep is linked to lower productivity, which results in working days being lost each year. With a few simple measures, employers could help improve the health and well-being of staff, improve their bottom lines, and contribute to a growing economy.
Dec 20, 2016 Thrive Global
Americans Don't Sleep Enough, and It's Costing Us $411 Billion
Sleep and sleep loss are often considered to be among the most intimate of personal behaviors, but sleep matters to all aspects of society, from an individual's health to the success of the global economy.
Nov 30, 2016 Washington Post PostEverything
Students Shouldn't Lose Sleep Over the Liberty Bridge Fire
The fire and resulting closure of the Liberty Bridge is forcing some Pittsburgh high school students to sacrifice sleep to meet a new 7:11 a.m. start time. Sleep loss has consequences for adolescents' minds, bodies, behavior, and for public safety.
Sep 21, 2016 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A New Prescription for Sleepless Americans: Take Advice, Not a Pill
New guidelines from the American College of Physicians favor behavioral therapy over meds as the first-line treatment for insomnia. However, the ACP's recommendation will not in itself raise the level of access to optimal care for insomnia patients.
May 9, 2016 The Huffington Post
When the School Bell Tolls Too Early
School schedules can bring sleep-defying stresses to kids and teens. But there are strategies for parents to get their families 'sleep-ready' for the school year.
Aug 10, 2015 The Park Record
Sleepless in the City
An alarming number of American city dwellers face sleepless nights, followed inevitably by days of productivity-sapping fatigue and, ultimately, the possibility of more serious health consequences. There are some things they can do to better their chances of falling and staying asleep.
Jul 17, 2015 The Huffington Post
Your Questions About Sleep, Answered
RAND's Wendy Troxel, an expert on sleep, hosted an 'Ask Me Anything' session on Reddit to answer questions about how to improve sleep health, what to do about a snoring partner, and more.
Jul 1, 2015
U.S. Soldiers Denied Sleep Suffer Major Health Effects
More than 60 percent of service members don't get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night. About a third get by on five hours or less. The military, and society at large, needs to recognize the importance of sleep as a crucial link to physical and mental well-being.
May 11, 2015 U.S. News & World Report
A Season of Bedtime Challenges
Halloween and Daylight Saving Time can wreak havoc on children's sleep schedules. But because parents know what's coming, they can prepare by monitoring what kids consume, maintaining calm, consistent schedules, and slowly shifting bedtime over a few days to accommodate the new time settings.
Oct 28, 2014 The Huffington Post
Quality Sleep at Sea
The U.S. Navy may be waking up to something sleep experts have known for a long time: that people function best when they follow their natural sleep rhythms.
May 8, 2014 U.S. News & World Report
Some Tired Myths About Sleeping with Your Valentine, or Not
Two-thirds of U.S. adults report that they regularly sleep with a partner. Yet, through 60 years or so of sleep research, scientists have tended to view sleep as an individual behavior, largely ignoring the potential impact of bedmates.
Feb 14, 2014 The Huffington Post
A Warm Bed on a Cold Morning: When Waking Up Is Hard to Do
As seductive as a warm bed may be on a cold morning, staying in bed too long can lead to disrupted sleep and a sleep-sapping case of the winter blues. These are the times when we need to resist the urge to hibernate and force ourselves to get going.
Jan 16, 2014 The Huffington Post
Deadly Aftermath of 'Microsleep'
Though “microsleep,” commonly referred to as “highway hypnosis,” may enter the public discourse most often when it's cited as the possible cause of a disaster like the Metro-North train wreck, it is responsible for fatal accidents on American highways every day.
Dec 12, 2013 Newsday
How to Sleep in Heavenly Peace This Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time when people try to do too much. And that often leads to stress and worry, which can be the enemies of a good night's sleep. Here are a few tricks to help manage the episodic bouts of insomnia that are common during the holidays.
Dec 2, 2013 The Huffington Post
Here's to Our Health
Atop the new mayor's agenda should be improving the health and well-being of Pittsburgh residents. With an unassailable electoral mandate in hand, Mr. Peduto is positioned to take bold steps. And the best way to do that is by applying scientific and medical evidence to shape an integrated, citywide, health-policy framework.
Nov 25, 2013 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Sleep and Couples: For Better or Worse, Day and Night?
Compared with other health behaviors such as smoking or exercise, sleep is unique because for most adults, it is a behavior they
May 20, 2013 ABC News
