November 3rd marked the start of a tumultuous week for many Americans. With the end of Daylight Saving Time and the pending presidential election, the U.S. faced a whirlwind of changes to shake up routine sleep schedules. The events of the last week unsurprisingly caused several disruptions, based on sleep data collected by Tempur-Pedic's Sleeptracker-AI® technology.

Hearts Were Racing
Starting October 27th, the average heart rates of Sleeptracker-AI® users (measured by BPM) started high and fluctuated over the following eleven nights leading to the election. While sleepers experienced lower rates in the two days following the time change – a positive response to an extra hour in the day – their heart rates increased again on election night, as shown here in comparison to the previous week.

Bedtimes Were Pushed
Setting our clocks back meant changing our sleep schedules. Though some sleepers might have prepared for Daylight Saving Time, the nights that followed showed inconsistencies.

Sudden fluctuations in the data indicate people were prepared to lie down an hour earlier than normal and stay true the following Monday. However, after a busy day of casting votes, many strayed from the new routine on Tuesday. Average bedtimes compared to the week before were slightly later than usual, as Americans awaited results of the presidential election.

Sweet Dreams Were Sparse

One of the most drastic changes in trends last week was sleep duration itself. The typical Sleeptracker-AI® user slept anywhere from about 6.5 to 7 hours leading up to the time change. Averages were higher on the night of Daylight Saving Time, as many took advantage of the extra hour to stay in bed.

Durations dropped to a lower range on voting night, with a 6-hour average. This number-based evidence shows that societal events, especially when country-wide, can directly impact stress levels and rest patterns.

As a result of the disorienting week, plenty of Americans may feel like they are still catching up on those lost Zzzs – a good reminder to prioritize our sleep quality during times of change.

Our  Sleeptracker-AI® is powered through Tempur-Ergo® Smart Bases for your sleep system. Want to track your sleep habits? Learn more about our Smart Bases here.