In my mind – and I imagine not only in mine – 20 looks something like this: Carefree, hanging out, partying, all night long. At least that’s how my 20s were. Sleep was just a necessary “evil,” a brief interruption from an otherwise full and exciting life.

But because it’s a fad and it turns, today’s 20-somethings don’t seem to have the same opinion. On the contrary, for Gen Z, sleep is an absolute priority and a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. A recent study, published in The Wall Street Journal revealed that the ideal bedtime for Gen Zers are at 9 the evening.

Additionally, according to the same study’s findings, in 2022 twenty-somethings reported sleeping an average of 9 hours and 28 minutes, an 8% increase from what they reported in 2010 (8 hours and 47 minutes).

Reading these findings, one question inevitably arises: How?

Between hectic work schedules, miserable commutes, and the exhausting cycle of life management, what time is left? How does one find time to lean into their pillow at 9pm, when a full day has preceded them, with many obligations, work and endless commuting? When do they go to the supermarket? When do they clean their house? When do they spend time with their loved ones?

Yes, most of us who wonder don’t get enough sleep and would definitely like more. In particular, at that difficult moment of waking up in the morning, I have often caught myself promising myself that I will go to bed earlier the next night. However, no matter how good the intention, no matter how hard I try, this almost never becomes possible.

And there, in the endless waking moments, we come face to face with a wealth of research that reminds us that one bad thing is coming: Bad sleep is linked to terrifying health consequences, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and a reduction in life expectancy. It’s not that we underestimate its importance or don’t know how important it is. It’s just that as much as we love sleep, as much as we strive for it, it seems almost impossible to secure more minutes of rest in everyday life.

I invite anyone who has a contrary opinion to prove it to me. Because in my mind, it’s just math. There aren’t enough hours in the day. At least 8 of them are occupied by work, if not more. And then, arriving home, after an unavoidably late commute, there is little time and a multitude of other obligations: Housework, cooking and a relaxing bath at the end of the day, often the only form of self-care.

However, even if the achievement of this lofty goal were possible, something is missing: Free time. Time with loved ones, engaging in activities that bring joy. Let’s not forget that the global scientific community is pointing fingers at the ever-increasing rates of depression and loneliness. Figures from 2023 show that 1 in 10 people aged 16 – 29 feel lonely often or always, with the World Health Organization expressing strong concern about the consequences of loneliness on public health.

People’s social lives are already being squeezed by, among other things, stress and financial difficulties. If we take away those hours of socializing and go straight to bed, what time is left to see our friends? Sure there’s the weekend, but these days go by way too fast. And Sunday hardly counts at all – it’s dedicated to awesome life management and spiritual preparation for the week ahead. Early bedtime, then, could act as a tombstone for many people’s social lives.

As much as we are required to be constantly productive (even self-care is a chore at this point), going to bed at 9pm is just another utopian scenario in a long list of unattainable goals.

And, after all, what is left of life if not some pleasant, quality and refreshing time? For most people, that’s the only time they have to themselves: The dark hours of pleasure, forays into bars with friends, and Netflix.

Should we abandon this too? I prefer my eyelids to flutter the next morning.