SOMA Living September 2025

POWER OF SLEEP As we explore sleep needs throughout our lives, we focus on adolescence, a time filled with two major sleep challenges. The first challenge stems from changes in a teen’s circadian rhythm. Young children often feel tired by 9 PM, driven by their internal clocks. However, during puberty, the suprachiasmatic nucleus shifts this clock, leading the average 16-year-old to experience peak wakefulness around 9 PM. In many cases, they won’t transition to sleep until 11 PM or midnight. If you feel frustrated when your teen resists bedtime, remember this: asking them to sleep at 10 PM is like expecting you to sleep at 7 PM! No matter how much you wish for their slumber, their brains simply aren’t ready. Society’s failure to recognize the realities of a teenager’s circadian rhythm creates the second challenge: early

school start times. Expecting teens to wake up energic at 7 AM resembles asking adults to get up at 4 AM. Parents must acknowledge this reality: teenagers require more sleep than adults and need to obtain it at different times. Fortunately, this phase is temporary, and they will eventually adjust. Bryan Umiker is the Founder & Owner of the Ethical Mattress Company and a Maplewood resident since 2001. He has over 20 years of experience in the sleep industry, including roles as a Buyer and Vice President for Bloomingdale’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Casper.

Bryan Umiker is the Founder & Owner of the Ethical Mattress Company, and a Maplewood resident since 2001. His career spans 20+ years in the Sleep space, including time as a Buyer and Vice President for Bloomingdale’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Casper.

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