These Are The REAL Reasons New Yorkers Never Sleep

Katherine Ripley • May 12, 2016

The stereotype says New York is “the city that never sleeps” because we have such a vibrant and energetic nightlife scene. And while New Yorkers do get less sleep than most of the country, the reasons why are much more nuanced than people might think. Here are the real reasons you’re always up at night:

1. Anxiety about rodents in your apartment

mouse

That mouse could be eating your granola bars in the next room right now. You’re tempted to get up and check, but then again, you’re too scared to. So you lie in bed thinking about what your next move is going to be, in this un-winnable war against NYC’s rodent infestation.

2. Loud music from a parked car outside

Symptomatic of living in Brooklyn. You don’t really want to call the police with a noise complaint, but there’s also no way you’re getting out of bed and going outside to ask them to turn it down. Continue placing pillows over face.

3. Noisy neighbors

Symptomatic of living in a city where everyone is crammed together like sardines. You have to listen to your neighbor’s arguments at 3am.

4. Finishing latest artistic project

This is a city of self-starters and starving artists. We don’t sleep because we’re still working on whatever we need/want to finish. Some stereotypes are true.

5. It takes forever to get home

Applies to people who live in Brooklyn, Queens, or northern Manhattan. Say you did go out, and you left the bar at a reasonable hour, like 2am. It still takes you until 3am to get home. Then you have to get up an hour earlier than everyone else the next morning to make it to brunch.

6. It never gets dark

night owl cover photo — [PicselPerfect/Flickr]

Everyone in this city has a disrupted circadian rhythm because it just never gets completely dark. Oh, it’s 4am? I’m not tired. And look, it’s as bright as day outside!

Cover photo credit: blese/Flickr