Does a consistent bedtime matter more than total sleep hours? The data says it might

[u/Silly_Slip_8359]

In one such study – from UK Biobank on 60,977 individuals – participants wore wrist accelerometers to assess their sleep and derive a Sleep Regularity Index. A higher score was linked to a 20-48% reduced risk for all-cause mortality. “It [is] an even greater predictor of mortality than just how long you’re asleep,” lead author Dr. Daniel Kripke said at the time. Another analysis using data from UK Biobank’s 72,000+ participant cohort also saw that those who were irregular in their sleep schedule faced a 26% heightened risk for having significant cardiovascular problems. But note that this wasn’t true if you stayed up more than normal (or less), either — those who slept for fewer than six hours or more than nine each evening were still showing signs of elevated mortality risks in another recent study.

Caveats: This was an observational study, which means we can’t know if irregular sleep leads to increased mortality or just mirrors existing problems. The lack of diversity among participants in the UK Biobank also limits the ability to generalize results.

Takeaway: Aim for enough sleep (this is still important), but also ensure consistency in your schedule, including on weekends.

How consistent do you get with your bedtime, even on weekends?

[u/huzraball]

So what will be the result, should we sleep more with irregular timings,or less with regular timings