Another Reason You're Not Getting Enough Sleep

Who knew that THIS could mess with your bedtime

Well, this is unfair: Your gender may affect how well you sleep, according to a new study published in the journal Sleep Medicine.

For the study, researchers from the U.K. surveyed 8,480 people about their sleep habits—like when they fell asleep, how long they slept for, and if they experienced any difficulties drifting off. The results? Women slept for 11 minutes less than men, on average. Female participants also reported having more trouble sleeping than their male counterparts.

MORE: 5 Foods That Are Keeping You Up At Night

What gives? While this study didn't analyze why women reported poorer sleep quality, previous studies have shown that women generally have more trouble sleeping than men, says lead study author Yue Leng, a Ph.D. student in the department of public health and primary care at the University of Cambridge. One reason might be that women feel more pressure to balance work and family, and the stress could disrupt their sleep patterns, says Leng.  

But fear not—we've got loads of awesome tips and tricks to sleep better tonight (and every other night after that).

MORE: Can Sex Help You Sleep Better?

The Real Reason He Forgot Your Anniversary

Good news: It’s probably not because he doesn't love you

Before you chew out your guy for dropping the ball on an important date—again—listen to this: Men report more memory complaints than women do, according to a new study published in the journal BMC Psychology.

OK, so he’s not totally off the hook for forgetting your friend Cindy’s name (he’s met her like seven times!), but apparently gender plays a role when it comes to memory. Researchers surveyed more than 37,000 people over the age of the 30 about their self-reported memory problems. In general, more men reported issues in eight out of nine areas—like remembering something that happened a year ago, recalling details of a conversation, and remembering names and dates.

Unfortunately, the study didn’t identify why men might be more prone to forgetfulness. Clearly this isn’t an excuse for the men in your life to flake on important details, but hey, it may help explain why he has no idea where you guys went on your second date. 

More from Women's Health:
6 Fascinating Facts About “Normal Men"
The Rudest Thing You Can Do on a First Date
The Weird Thing That Happens to Guys After They’re Married