It’s all thanks to data analyst Brian Wilt, who tracked the habits of people who use UP, a sleep-and-movement tracking system that includes a wristband and smartphone app. His results compile the activity of more than 5,000 users of the technology in 45 cities worldwide. It turns out users across the globe sleep similarly, clocking just shy of 7 hours a night. Orlando users nabbed the most sleep in the U.S. (6 hours 56 minutes) while Las Vegas users got the least (somebody’s got to stay up and do all those things that happen but stay there, right?). Predictably, New Yorkers earned the top spot for steps by taking an average of 8,704 each day—though Boston (8,471) and Washington, D.C. (8,262) came close. Phoenix (6,768), Houston (6,768), and Miami (6,734) UP users rounded out the bottom of the list. (The ideal number, of course, is 8 hours of sleep a night. These 20 ways to sleep better every night can help you get there.) But the most captivating part of this study isn’t the cut-and-dry ranking: It’s the way the data reveal cultural influences on our fitness habits. This explains a number of Wilt’s other discoveries: an uptick in steps during Disneyworld’s annual marathon in Orlando, a week of increased sleep following Chinese New Year celebrations in Beijing, and a smattering of afternoon siestas in Madrid, to name a few. “The data is rich with patterns—weekend and weekday differences, seasonal changes, and holidays—which give us even more context about how people are sleeping and moving in real life,” he says. Most importantly, Wilt explains, knowing when users might be unusually sedentary or sleepless can help UP deliver tailored advice via its app. Last Thanksgiving, for example, users were offered a fitness challenge, and those who accepted logged 24% more steps than those who opted instead for the traditional turkey nap. (If you’re looking for a fitness challenge yourself, consider our 28-Day Challenge.) Learn more about your city and read the full report right here. MORE: 7 Caffeine-Free Ways To Boost Your Energy
