The study
Windred et al. (SLEEP, 2024) used UK Biobank participants who wore wrist devices, so sleep was measured, not self-reported.
What they found
The most regular sleepers had a 20–48% lower risk of death from any cause than the least regular.
Regularity predicted mortality better than sleep duration did.
The honest catch
Large and device-measured, but one observational group. Irregular sleep may partly reflect other health problems.
Decoded / the concept
Your body clock
Every organ runs on a 24-hour clock: liver, gut, heart, brain.
A bedtime that moves is jet lag without the trip. Same times, every day, keeps every clock in sync.
What you can do
- Same bedtime, every night.
- Same wake time, every morning.
- Weekends included.
Common questions
Is sleep regularity more important than sleep duration?
In about 60,000 UK Biobank participants with wrist trackers, sleep regularity predicted risk of death better than sleep duration did (Windred et al., SLEEP, 2024).
How do I make my sleep more regular?
Keep the same bedtime and wake time every day, weekends included.
Published 2026-09-30 · Last reviewed 2026-09-30
Educational content, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician before changing anything about your health.
