sleep – Page 2 – Topical Fruit

This Math Formula Can Determine If You Got Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed

Someone has created a ridiculously overcomplicated math formula to figure out if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

Of course, you probably don’t need a formula to tell you that… especially if it’s a Monday… since most of us already know by the time we’ve burned our toast or stubbed a toe.

This “morning mood” equation factors in all sorts of daily variables, like how long you spend eating breakfast, exercising, showering, doing your makeup, wrangling the kids, or whatever else qualifies as your “getting ready” routine. It also includes the number of hours you slept and the exact time you got up.

It looks intimidating, but it’s not actually that hard to do. You will, however, need a pen, paper, and the patience of someone who hasn’t been awake for only 20 minutes.

Here’s the breakdown:

Take the number of minutes you spent eating breakfast. Double it.
Add that to the number of minutes you spent exercising and showering. Write that total down for later.
Now, take the number of hours you slept. Subtract it from eight, then add one.
Multiply that by the number of hours your wake-up time was away from 7:12 a.m., PLUS one. (Yes, 7:12 specifically… don’t ask.) Write this number down too.
Take the first number you wrote down, and divide it by your second number.
Finally, add that result to HALF the number of minutes you spent on other “getting ready” activities.

If your final total is more than 37, congratulations: You woke up on the right side of the bed. If it’s 37 or less, well… maybe don’t talk to anyone until you’ve had coffee.

(Here’s video of a British mathematician explaining it, but it doesn’t make it easier to wrap your head around. For what it’s worth, I did it and got a 33, which means I got up on the wrong side today.)

Too Many Nightmares Can Literally Scare You to Death

Having nightmares once in a while is normal, especially nightmares where you’re being chased down a beach by a sentient flock of angry toupees. (No? Just me?)

A study presented at the annual European Academy of Neurology conference in Finland found that having bad dreams regularly could cause more than just a poor night’s sleep. People who frequently suffer from nightmares are significantly more likely to die young.

Yes, too many nightmares could be deadly.

Researchers tracked participants for nearly 20 years and found a disturbing link. Those who reported having nightmares at least once a week were three times more likely to die before the age of 70.

They think it’s tied to how our bodies respond to stress. Just like in real life, your system goes into panic mode during nightmares, pumping out cortisol – a stress hormone strongly linked to faster cellular aging.

“Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality. That’s why nightmares often wake us up sweating, gasping for breath, and with our hearts pounding – because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered. This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake.”

Okay, maybe you’ll live. But bad dreams make you age faster too.

The study found people with frequent nightmares tend to age faster as well. So, nightmares that your hair turned gray could actually make your hair turn gray! They say the sped-up cellular aging is 40% of the reason you’re more likely to die young.

Sleep well… your life might depend on it.

The results of the study point to a close connection between disturbed sleep, chronic stress, and long-term health. So if you’re waking up in a cold sweat more nights than not, it might be time to take your sleep hygiene (and stress levels) seriously.

If you’ve been brushing off your bad dreams as no big deal, you might want to rethink that decision.

Maybe sleep on it. Sweet dreams!

Most People Only Get 20 Minutes a Day to Themselves

Remember “me time”? It’s that magical stretch of peace where no one’s asking you to find a missing sock, answer an email, or attend a Zoom meeting. For most Americans, that concept now lives in the same fantasy realm as flying cars and affordable rent.

A new report from Talker Research finds that the average American gets just 9.5 hours of alone time per month.

That’s about 20 minutes per day, or roughly enough time to scroll through your phone, realize you’re out of snacks, and question all your life choices.

What’s eating up all our time? The usual suspects: family obligations, work demands, financial stress, social responsibilities, and the ever-persistent feeling of guilt. Apparently, setting boundaries is hard when your to-do list includes making dinner, paying bills, and pretending you didn’t see that group text.

But here’s how badly people want a break. On average, Americans say they’d pay $2,521 for one completely uninterrupted day to themselves. Parents say they’d pay even more, $3,668. And let’s be honest, if you’ve ever hidden in the bathroom just to breathe, this sounds like a bargain.

Sleep is also a hot commodity. The average person would pay $340 for just one extra hour of shut-eye.

In total, 53% of people say they aren’t getting enough time to themselves. And nearly 38% admit they’ve lied to their partners, friends, or family just to get some space.

Classic excuses include “I’m not feeling well,” “I’ve got a lot of work,” “I have an appointment,” and the old reliable: “My phone’s about to die.”

So if someone tells you they’re taking a personal day, don’t judge… they’re probably just trying to reclaim their precious 20 minutes of peace.

Sleep? Not in These Cities. See Who’s Losing the Most Zzzs

If you’ve been hitting snooze a little too often lately, you’re not alone—especially if you live in Norfolk, Virginia. A new study analyzing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the most sleep-deprived cities in the U.S., and Norfolk claims the dubious honor of landing at the top of the list.

The research examined sleep patterns across 100 major metropolitan areas and ranked cities by how often residents report getting insufficient sleep. Norfolk leads the nation in sleepless nights, followed by New Orleans, and Detroit. Rounding out the top ten are Toledo, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Laredo, Cleveland, and Memphis.

While the rankings may raise eyebrows, the geography of sleeplessness is telling.

Most of the top 10 are located in the eastern half of the country, and Ohio stands out with three cities on the list—an indicator that sleep issues may be more regional than random. Whether it’s work schedules, stress, or late-night football heartbreaks (looking at you, Browns fans), some cities clearly aren’t catching enough Zs.

On the flip side, if you’re hoping for better shuteye, you might want to head west. The ten least sleep-deprived cities include Minneapolis, Seattle, and San Jose. Also making the well-rested list are Madison, Boise, St. Paul, Denver, Lincoln, Oakland, and San Francisco.

Notably, California and Minnesota each have multiple cities among the best sleepers list, suggesting that lifestyle, environment, or perhaps even local policy might play a role in promoting better rest.

With sleep deprivation linked to serious health concerns—including heart disease, obesity, and depression—this isn’t just a ranking to laugh off. Experts recommend that adults aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night, though a third of Americans regularly fall short.

So whether you’re sleepless in Norfolk or a snoozer in Seattle, it may be time to rethink those late-night scrolling habits. Your body—and maybe your city’s reputation—will thank you.