wellness
Why people are sleeping worse and what to do about it
Santa Maria residents report shorter nights tied to evening screen habits and work stress, with local programs offering concrete fixes.
How we reported this
More adults in Santa Maria now average under six hours of sleep on weeknights, according to intake logs at local wellness sites. The drop shows up most clearly among people who keep phones or laptops active past 10 p.m.
The change matters because consistent short sleep raises daytime fatigue and weakens focus at work or school. Local health workers trace the pattern to longer commutes along Highway 101 and the habit of checking email right before bed.
Local programs already tracking the trend
Staff at the Santa Maria Valley Wellness Center on East Main Street began logging sleep complaints last spring. Their evening workshops on Betteravia Road now draw 30 participants each Tuesday, many from the Orcutt neighborhood. The city parks department added a 7 p.m. wind-down class at Elks Park in June, using breathing drills and phone curfews.
These sessions cost $12 for drop-ins and run through September. Participants track their rest with simple paper logs that the center supplies.
Numbers behind the local reports
A June 2026 review by Santa Barbara County public health recorded a 28 percent rise in adults citing sleep trouble compared with the same month in 2024. The same review noted that residents who limited screens after 9 p.m. gained an average of 42 minutes of sleep within two weeks.
Practical steps start with a fixed bedtime and a 30-minute buffer before lights out. Turning off notifications on Broadway between 8 and 10 p.m. helps many residents. The wellness center recommends keeping the bedroom at 65 degrees and reserving the bed for sleep only. Those who still struggle after two weeks can book a free 15-minute consult at the center on East Main Street.