According to the 2007 National Sleep Foundation poll, which focused on women's sleep habits, mothers who work full-time and have school aged children claim to spend less than six hours in bed per weeknight. But according to the American Time Use Survey, which relies on time logs rather than memories of typical nights, such women slept an average of around eight hours per night when you include weekends (which means that, unless women sleep 13 hours a night on weekends, they're sleeping more than six on weeknights too).
You can chalk the disconnect up to a competitive culture, says Cali Williams Yost, owner of Work + Life Fit, Inc., which consults with companies on organizational issues. "Like taking all of your vacation, for some reason, wanting and getting sleep symbolizes a less than 100% commitment not only to your job but your family," she says.
"Assuming there are some people who truly don't need sleep, I think everyone else who boasts about how little shut eye they require either has convinced themselves it doesn't matter … or they have untreated sleep disorders and they've reframed not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep as normal when, in fact, they could sleep if they got help." Then they might enjoy the rest of their 16 to 18 hours per day a bit more.
