You are bound to have heard the expression:
‘Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.’
The rhyme itself was popularised by Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the USA, in the 18th century, but apparently we’ve been giving out this advice since around 500BC!
Is it actually true, though, or a myth?
There have been several scientific studies conducted over the years, with ‘early to bed’ being defined as before 11pm, and ‘early to rise’ as before 6.30am. Unfortunately, it appears that the time you go to bed has little impact on your health, wisdom, or (boo!) wealth. Some of us are natural night owls, and are more alert later at night, while others are early birds and prefer an earlier start to the day.
What is important is that when you do go to bed you get the right amount of sleep – most healthy adults need between seven and nine hours a night. If you have an unusually early start one morning, then try to go to bed early the night before to fit in your sleep hours. Whenever you can, though, it’s best to follow a routine and go to bed at a similar time every night, as this helps you prepare mentally for sleep and results in a better night’s rest.
Feeling relaxed when you turn in for the night is a vital part of getting a good night’s sleep and wearing natural fibres such as our classic cotton nightwear will help you stay cool and comfortable. As long as you sleep for the number of hours you need and your sleep is restful and refreshing, it doesn’t seem to matter what time you go to bed – which is great news for night owls.