The presidential election season in America is a complicated mix of stress, anxiety, and hope as political tensions run high and uncertainty lies ahead. But now that the 2024 election is over, we are exploring how Election Day in America affected – or did not affect – sleep and stress levels across the country. Sleep Cycle aggregated and analyzed sleep data from the 2020 election and now the 2024 election to understand how each election impacts the sleep of the American people – by state and age group.
For the 2024 election we analyzed over 593,000 sleep sessions and the results are in – this year’s election had less effect on Americans’ sleep and users reported feeling less stress compared to 2020.
Answered by 114,632 American users in 2024.
Answered by 198,447 American users in 2020.
As we reflect on the recent election, it’s essential to take proactive steps to mitigate stress. Engaging in relaxing activities such as setting aside time to jot down concerns and solutions, and considering non-alcoholic drink options can all support better sleep. At Sleep Cycle, we provide resources like bedtime routine reminders and soothing soundscapes to help our users navigate these high-stress periods and prioritize their sleep health.
Stressful Day was reported 54 percent more on Election Day compared to a regular Tuesday in October 2020. In 2024 Stressful Day was reported 18 percent more on Election Day compared to a regular Tuesday in October 2024.
“Stressful Day” was reported 18% more on Election Day compared to a regular Tuesday
in October 2024.
This chart shows the percent of users labeling days as stressful* leading up to the election.
Users adding “Stressful day” in their Sleep Notes increased by 18% compared to a regular Tuesday in October 2024, but this is a sharp decline from 54% of users reporting Stressful day on the 2020 Election, compared to a regular Tuesday in October 2020.
*In the Sleep Cycle app, users have the option to record Sleep Notes so they can track patterns in their daily routines that may impact their sleep health in both positive and negative ways.
The comparison of how well people slept – based on our proprietary sleep score – and how their state voted is an interesting one. That’s why we took a look at the intersection of sleep quality in each state to understand which states slept the best or the worst on election night. Hover over each state to see its sleep quality score and average bed time.
Wyoming
Quality
Mississippi
Quality
Hawaii
Alaska
In 2024 most age groups stayed up later than on the 2020 election night – but there is one age group that didn’t. Ages 18-24 actually went to bed slightly earlier (2 minutes sooner) than the previous election. The age group that experienced the greatest delay in bed time was ages 55-64, going to sleep 11 minutes later than last election.
The following chart is a comparison of how late each age group stayed up, compared to the previous election.
The results for The 2024 Presidential Election Sleep Report showed a significant shift in how Americans slept compared to the 2020 election. With less people reporting feeling stressed and less people reporting election night impacts, it is clear that this election had less influence on Americans’ sleep.
As we continue to study these patterns, Sleep Cycle remains committed to understanding the relationship between life’s big moments and sleep. By gaining insights into these connections, we aim to provide individuals with tools to manage their sleep more effectively during times of change, helping them navigate stress and maintain their wellbeing in a world that’s constantly evolving.
Please visit the Sleep Cycle blog for tips on how to improve your sleep.
This report includes data from Sleep Cycle users in the U.S. who voluntarily and anonymously shared their sleep data. It analyzes sleep session data from the last three presidential election nights, as well as a comparison of general day data, and in-app survey results gathered during the following time periods:
2024 ELECTION
148,945 sleep sessions during the period of November 4-5, 2024
114,632 users participated in an in-app survey on November 5, 2024
General day data from the four Tuesdays prior to election night in 2024, totaling 593,558 sleep sessions
2020 ELECTION
108,080 sleep sessions during the period of November 2-3, 2020
198,447 users participated in an in-app survey on November 4, 2020
General day data from the four Tuesdays prior to election night in 2020, totaling 472,178 sleep sessions
2016 ELECTION
127,077 sleep sessions during the period of November 7-8, 2016
General day data from the four Tuesdays prior to election night in 2016, totaling 541,478 sleep sessions
Jonna Grenfeldt
PR & Communications at Sleep Cycle
[email protected]