There is a lot to learn about generational sleeping that can coincide with different signs of sleep disorders or conditions. This three-part series looks closely at the different generations broken into three categories: baby boomers and Generation X; xennials and millennials; and Generation Z and Generation Alpha.
Why do generations exist? What is the purpose of separating age groups into generations?
Collectively, a U.S. generational cohort is composed of individuals born in a time span dictated or grouped by historical events roughly occurring during similar life cycles. Like a social class or culture, generational cohorts acquire traits and preferences common to the group.
The Pew Research Center defines a 15-to-20-year time span as a generational group or cohort with the added caveat of the definition of generation; date of birth cannot be the only definition as historical events and popular culture paired with individual demographics shape their cohort. Though individuals do not experience life events in the same context, this grouping brings similarities to the case of social system and structure.
Millennials
Millennials represent the largest U.S. generation at 83 million people who were born between 1981 and 1997. Raised by “helicopter parents” who tried to protect the self-esteem and safety of their children, this generation was guided by historical events like school shootings and practice lockdown drills, the Oklahoma City bombing, the September 11 attacks, and social media influence.
Through these events, they are considered the most coddled, nurtured, and protected generation to date. And because of the changes in the world, many come from two-parent working families that value high structure, multitasking, and a strong desire to change the world.
From an early age, Millennials were told they could be anything they wanted to be and highly encouraged to attend college. Millennials were the first generation to encourage talking about their feelings as they grew up in a wired world with influential pressures on social networks, blogs, videos, and the Internet playing a strong role in their upbringing. As the most ethnically diverse generation, 43 percent are nonwhite.
Xennials
Within generational theory are individuals who overlap between two generations creating a microgeneration or cusp. Values, collective memories, and identifiable characteristics exist for microgenerations that divide the typical generational cohort placement. Xennials are part of this microgeneration label born between 1978 and 1984.
Considered as a “quiet break” between Generation X and Millennials, the Xennials do not identify with either label as they grew up in a time when technology emerged as they grew older. From Nintendo to cable to pagers to email to home computers to cell phones, Xennials were adults prior to social media, instant messaging, and texting; however, since Xennials were born into a technology-driven age, this cohort holds a strong presence online.
Remembering a time before texting, satellite televisions, and wireless technology, this generational cohort is still awed by new technology and remembers life without these new norms. Xennials are a subset of individuals who are comfortable with technology but can live without social media.
They also appreciate the perspectives of both Generation X and Millennials due to differing workplace advances factoring in both respective generations; they feel a strong need to learn from past mistakes and thrive on change through forward-thinking ideas.
Sleeping Deficiencies
Xennials and Millennials offer three reasons that the Sleep Center has defined the deficiencies between sleep and health.
With more student debt than any other generation, the first area that contributes to a lack of sleep for Millennials is financial challenges. It is hard for this group to plan for their future due to fewer job availability and a need for side gigs to pay off debt. Millennials noted in a survey that their highest point contributing to a lack of sleep was worry over money or finances.
Another contributing factor is lack of exercise and diet. Considering the concern over their finances and the added work to make extra money, there is little time for exercise. Stress also can lead to overeating or driving through to get fast food. Adding even a 30-minute walk could help.
Exercise not only reduces stress but physical activity improves sleep quality and increases sleep duration keeping one in deep sleep longer. According to Sleep Doctor, increased deep sleep boosts the immune system, supports cardiac health, and helps control anxiety. Early morning and afternoon exercise may also help reset the sleep-wake cycle by raising body temperature slightly, then allowing it to drop and trigger sleepiness a few hours later.
Cell phones are the final deficiency adding to Millennials getting less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep. With the addictive nature of a cell phone, here are some questions to ask yourself if you consider the cell phone to be a huge distraction to your sleep quality.
Think back to the last time you fell asleep without your cell phone in bed. It may be too long to remember, but exposure to the blue light from screens before bed leads to drowsiness even with a full eight hours in bed. Studies show emittance of the blue light “prevents our brains from releasing melatonin, a hormone that tells our bodies it’s nighttime.”
Plug your phone across the room; this can also help with hitting snooze too many times in the morning. Giving up the phone for an hour before bedtime will help distract your brain from the light. I am not suggesting you keep your phone at 5 percent life but don’t charge your phone next to your bed; otherwise, you will be tempted to get on your phone in bed.
With some adjustments in daily habits, this can help add to a Xennial and Millennials sleep schedule making a healthier day ahead at work and for family and friends. If you live in Alaska and want to see if a sleep study is right for you, contact The Alaska Sleep Clinic by clicking the link below for a free 10-minute phone call with a sleep educator who can help determine if a sleep study is necessary or if a consultation with our sleep specialist needs to be scheduled.
