Why New Yorkers Are Sleeping Worse-And What to Do About It

Brooklynite Susan Hartman used to pride herself on her ability to function with just five hours of sleep. Now, she’s hitting snooze on her alarm three times before dragging herself out the door. Hartman isn’t alone-a new survey by NYU Langone Health found that nearly 62% of New Yorkers say their sleep has worsened in the past year, with many blaming chronic stress, digital overload, and the city’s relentless pace.

With long working hours and an all-hours city culture, sleep deprivation might seem like an accepted part of life in New York. But experts say the trend isn’t just about busy schedules. The explosion of remote work, late-night scrolling on the 7 train, and growing worries over rent and the economy are turning a city that never sleeps into a city that sleeps poorly-and that’s taking a real toll on health and productivity.

Manhattan's Sleepless Hotspots

On a recent Wednesday night, Citibike racks along 7th Avenue in Chelsea were still nearly empty at 1 a.m.-proof that New Yorkers are staying active late. At the Midtown flagship of Equinox on 43rd Street, the “Late Night Burn” class finishes at 10:45 p.m., with dozens heading straight from a workout to grab post-gym smoothies at Juice Press. Over in Williamsburg, the Bedford Avenue Blue Bottle Coffee stays open until midnight for freelancers typing away on laptops. These 24/7 amenities reflect a culture that often prioritizes hustle and nightlife over a full eight-hour rest.

Organizations like the Center for Sleep Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, located on East 61st Street, have reported a marked uptick in appointments for insomnia and sleep disruptions, particularly among professionals in their 20s and 30s. The Sleep Center on Central Park South, meanwhile, now runs group workshops on “digital sunset” routines encouraging residents to step away from devices in the hours before bed.

Screen Time, Stress, and the Stats

According to the most recent data from the New York City Department of Health, average adult sleep duration dropped from 6.7 hours in 2017 to just 6.1 hours by early 2026, with boroughs like Manhattan and Queens reporting the shortest sleep times. Nationally, the CDC warns adults should average at least seven hours nightly for optimal health.

The financial cost of poor sleep is adding up as well. A study released in March by the RAND Corporation pegged New York’s annual productivity loss tied to sleep deprivation at over $4.5 billion-more than any other U.S. city. The same study flagged increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and workplace accidents among those regularly sleeping less than six hours.

Among teenagers, the problem is particularly acute. Data from the NYC Department of Education shows that high school students are now 34% more likely to report inadequate sleep compared to a decade ago, a jump partly traced to rising nighttime social media use and after-hours studying. Manhattan private schools like Horace Mann have begun introducing mandatory sleep education modules to curb late-night cram culture.

Small Steps to Better Rest

So what can be done? Sleep specialists point to simple shifts: setting a digital curfew an hour before bed, reserving the bedroom for sleep only, and investing in blackout curtains or white noise machines to battle the city’s infamous late-night honking. Free classes at the New York Public Library’s Schwarzman Building offer mindfulness tools, while studios like Modo Yoga in the West Village now host evening “Sleep Yoga” classes designed to cue relaxation after a hectic day.

For more stubborn sleep problems, several city hospitals-including Mount Sinai West on 59th Street-have rolled out affordable group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I) programs, with sliding-scale rates starting at $30 per session. And for those unsure where to start, the NYC Well helpline (call 888-NYC-WELL) can connect residents with local counselors and sleep health resources.

“Sleeping better in New York just takes some deliberate planning,” says an Upper East Side sleep coach, who asked not to be named to protect client privacy. “Treat sleep the way you’d treat any other health habit-make time for it, set boundaries, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.” New Yorkers may not slow down anytime soon, but with practical steps and a few lifestyle tweaks, better rest is well within reach.