By Jimmy Kontomanolis for Gravity By Jimmy Kontomanolis for Gravity | March 18, 2019 | Lifestyle,
In the “city that never sleeps,” some of New York’s most productive individuals share their sleeping habits.
They don’t call New York the “city that never sleeps” for nothing. The hustle and bustle of the Big Apple persists uninterrupted 24/7. And in the age of Instagram, the work-life balance of the highly productive New Yorker may seem nonexistent. From office hours to client meetings to after-hours entertaining, the typical nine to five can feel like a thing of the distant past.
You might even be reading this in the wee hours of the night, which begs the question: When do New Yorkers sleep? The American Sleep Association recommends seven to nine hours of sleep per night for the average adult, but reports that 35 percent of adults get less than seven hours in a typical 24-hour period. So we spoke to some of New York City’s most productive residents to hear about their own sleeping patterns.
Gotham editor in chief Sarah Bray leads a very busy life. A typical day starts at 7 a.m. when she starts to prepare for morning meetings, followed by an afternoon in the office writing and editing up to 20 stories per day before heading off to an event, gala or dinner in the evening. By the time Sarah returns home, she’s right back in work mode, catching up on emails, and then typically calls it a night by midnight. And while a seven-hour night might seem right on target, Sarah also wakes up constantly throughout the night with thoughts and ideas that she jots down so she doesn’t forget. So those seven hours can become significantly less.
Gotham editor in chief Saray Bray
Life for CNBC correspondent Sara Eisen is also seemingly non-stop. Balancing a career and being the mother of a one-year-old has proven to have an effect on Sara’s sleeping habits. And while she aims for seven hours a night, there’s no guaranteeing that she’ll get it—in fact, she says she rarely gets a “perfect, full night of sleep.” Sara anchors Squawk on the Street from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Closing Bell from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., which is often followed by meetings or other work obligations. At home, it’s a constant balancing act of spending time with her son and doing her homework to prepare for the following day. For Sara and so many of us, it’s become a matter of time management.
CNBC Correspondent Sara Eisen
While 50 – 70 million adults in the U.S. suffer from some kind of sleeping disorder, the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep are undeniable. Sleepscore Labs breaks it down perfectly: higher productivity, enhanced learning and creativity, greater emotional and physical well-being, and more.
So what can you do to ensure better sleeping habits? Sleepscore recommends exercising earlier in the day rather than close to your bedtime, consuming less caffeine, alcohol or food within hours of bedtime, disconnecting to clear your mind, and regulating the light in your bedroom. Bray’s go-tos include Netflix and a glass of wine or “really long, aimless walks” around the city, and Eisen loves to run a bath or do Saturday morning yoga. But what about your bed itself? How do you ensure maximum comfort at night?
Enter Gravity: Backed by science, the brand’s weighted blanket is revolutionizing sleep for those in the know. Engineered to seven to 12 percent of your body weight, Gravity Blanket simulates “deep touch pressure” that can improve sleep, mood and relaxation by stimulating your body’s pressure points. What does that do for you? It increases serotonin and melatonin, decreases cortisol (the hormone responsible for stress—and let’s face it, we can all use that!), and decreases heart rate and blood pressure, which in turn improves your mood to promote restful sleep and relaxation. And if that’s not enough to convince you, Gravity also offers a Faux Fur Duvet to add an extra touch of plush to your new and improved sleeping experience.
In a recent study with Sleepscore that recorded more than 1,000 nights of sleep, 72 percent of participants reported better, more restful sleep when using the Gravity Blanket, with 76 percent falling asleep faster and feeling more rested in the morning. That sounds like something we can all try and get behind!
Join the revolution and try it out for yourself. Visit gravityblankets.com to buy a Faux Fur Duvet, and use code GOTHAM20 for $20 off your purchase.
Photography by: GRAVITY BLANKET PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRAVITY; SARAH BRAY PHOTO BY JASON ROWE; SARA EISEN PHOTO COURTESY OF CNBC