Harvard Thinking Are you getting enough sleep? Probably not.
Nov 5, 2025
Matthew Weaver, epidemiologist studying population sleep patterns; Tony Cunningham, psychiatrist researching sleep, emotion, and memory; Rebecca Robbins, sleep scientist focused on public health. They discuss why most adults are shortchanged on sleep. Topics include sleep’s effects on mood and cognition, individual sleep differences and routines, public-health impacts, melatonin use, and practical tips for consistency and recovery.
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Prioritize Regularity, Not Just Hours
- Prioritize sleep regularity as well as duration to protect metabolic and mental health.
- Matthew Weaver says modest weekend catch-up (up to ~2 hours) can be beneficial if needed.
Pandemic Gave Some People More Sleep
- Early pandemic lockdowns produced ~25 more minutes of sleep for many who worked from home.
- Rebecca Robbins calls this a rare positive COVID-19 outcome linked to flexible schedules.
How Light Changed Our Sleep Timing
- Artificial light and self-selected lighting have shifted sleep timing later and suppressed melatonin.
- Matthew Weaver highlights light as the strongest circadian resetting signal affecting bedtime.
