Politicians might seem superhuman at times, but they toss and turn just like the rest of us. In a September 2024 podcast interview with the hosts of All the Smoke, Vice President Kamala Harris said that she wasn’t sleeping much after President Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed her as his successor. (1)
She said, “From the time that the President called me and told me he wasn’t running, I mean … everything was in speedy, speedy motion, and I was not sleeping so well.” Harris also admitted to being a bit sleep deprived the morning she decided on Tim Walz as her running mate. With so much on the line, it makes sense that Harris had trouble getting good shuteye. In fact, a recent U.S. News and World Report survey revealed that most Americans are struggling with sleep, due in part to worries about the Presidential election. (2)
Fortunately, it seems that Harris has strategies in place when it comes to managing stress and sticking to a schedule. In a 2018 interview with The Cut, Harris relayed her morning routine, including a 6 a.m. wake up and 30 minutes of exercise to start the day. (3) And in the evening, Harris explained that cooking and time in the kitchen help her to wind down.
Six years and a position in the country’s second highest office later, it appears that Harris is sticking to her routine. In her All the Smoke podcast interview, Harris said that when she couldn’t sleep in the lead up to her running mate decision, she turned to the kitchen. She says, “I just got up and started cooking.”
Liz Hughes, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and mental health expert at ADHD Advisor, weighed in on the connection between stress and insomnia. She says, “Stress can affect sleep in several ways including quality of sleep and ability to fall asleep.” Hughes continues, “Difficulty falling asleep (insomnia) occurs when stress and anxiety causes our mind to race which can increase how alert we are and keep us awake. Stress can also cause us to wake up throughout the night or wake earlier than desired, impacting our overall quality of sleep.”
Leading a country might be one of the world’s most stressful jobs, so it’s not surprising that past presidents have reported less than stellar sleep habits, including getting less shuteye than is recommended. In a 2016 New York Times article, former President Barack Obama admitted to working until midnight and only logging about five hours of sleep. (4)
Former President Donald Trump followed suit, claiming to have lower sleep needs than average and sleeping only four to five hours per night. But the combination of stress and lack of sleep can catch up over time. In July 2024, after some concerns about his cognitive functioning, President Biden reportedly asked his staff to stop scheduling evening events so that he could get more sleep. Prioritizing time to sleep is important, but slowing down the mind enough to relax and get quality rest is also crucial.
Hughes says, “When we feel anxious, mindfulness or meditation can be a helpful tool.” To wind down before bed or put your mind at ease anytime you’re struggling to relax, Hughes recommends the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. It works as follows: identify five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Hughes explains, “This practice can help us ground to the here and now and reduce anxiety of the future.”
When it comes to insomnia during big life events, Harris certainly isn’t alone and while it sounds like the Vice President has solid strategies for managing sleepless nights, a meditation practice could come in handy as well.
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Sources
1. OMNY; “Vice President Kamala Harris Interview | All the Smoke Special Edition,” All the Smoke podcast; https://omny.fm/shows/all-the-smoke/vice-president-kamala-harris-interview-all-the-smo#description; September 30, 2024.
2. Derwin, Nina; “U.S. News & World Report Sleep Habits, Preferences Consumer Survey 2023,” U.S. News & World Report; https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/sleep/americans-sleep-habits-preferences-survey; November 1, 2023.
3. Silman, Anna; “How I Get It Done: Kamala Harris,” The Cut; https://www.thecut.com/2018/08/kamala-harris-interview-daily-routine.html; August 28, 2018.
4. Shear, Michael D.; “Obama After Dark: The Precious Hours Alone,” The New York Times; https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/03/us/politics/obama-after-dark-the-precious-hours-alone.html?_r=0; July 2, 2016.
Hughes, Liz; Author interview; October 2024.