New research has revealed that two fifths of people in Britain are suffering from a chronic lack of sleep.
In addition, nearly four in ten (38%) people admit they spend three to four hours in front of screens every evening, in spite of more than half confessing that they are fully aware this has been proven to disrupt their sleep. Two fifths (41%) of those who use electronic devices in the evening confessed that they would be unlikely to change their habits, even if they knew they would get a good night’s sleep as a result; showing just how much people prioritise gadgets and gizmos, even over much-needed rest.
Research has revealed a problem among Britons when it comes to bedtime, as two fifths admit to always or often struggling to get the sleep they need. The poll also uncovered the extent to which people put their tech habits above their other basic human needs, as two fifths of people who use electronic devices in the evening confessed that they would be unlikely to restrict their tech usage even in the face of stark warnings as to how it disrupts sleeping patterns.
The online poll was conducted by YouGov and Hillarys, www.hillarys.co.uk. 2,025 people, all of whom were aged 18 and over, took part in the study and were quizzed on how they used technology and gadgets, as well as how well they sleep and whether they would be prepared to reduce their habits to improve their quality of sleep.
Firstly, those polled were ask to disclose how many hours of sleep they usually manage to get, per night, to which 45% stated that they had less than the recommended seven to eight hours per night. By comparison, just 6% of respondents claimed to get more than their recommended amount of sleep.
When all respondents were asked if they felt they suffered with a lack of sleep, 13% stated that they ‘always’ felt sleep-deprived, followed by 28% who said they ‘often’ did. Just 3% indicated that they never suffered from a lack of sleep.
In order to investigate what Great Britain’s bedtime habits were, respondents were then asked to reveal whether they used technology devices, such as smartphones, tablets, etc., before bed, to which almost three quarters (72%) stated that they either ‘always’ (45%) or ‘often’ (27%) use tech before bed; more than double the number of people who ‘sometimes’ (15%), ‘rarely’ (8%) or ‘never’ (4%) do. The most used devices were revealed as follows:
1. TV – 70%
2. Mobile/ smartphone – 55%
3. Laptop – 43%
4. Tablet – 39%
5. Other – 9%
Furthermore, the survey found that nearly four in ten of respondents (38%) spend on average 3-4 hours in front of electronic devices after 6pm.
In spite of the tech-heavy evening routine that seemed popular across Great Britain, more than half of those polled (56%) confessed that they knew of the impact it can have on a person’s sleep quality. In spite of these warnings, 41% confirmed that they were unlikely to change their habits and reduce their tech consumption before bed, even if they were guaranteed a better night’s sleep as a result.
Helen Turnbull, at Hillarys Blinds, said: "We’re really interested in finding out how Great Britain responds to advice about their sleep – particularly when it comes to reigning in the use of technology devices which we’ve all come to know and love, perhaps a little too much! It’s clear that there’s a real problem here in Britain, where almost half of us just aren’t getting enough sleep – and the same amount are feeling the consequences on a very regular basis! It’s a surprise we aren’t all sleepwalking our way through our lives; in fact, most of us can probably relate to that very sentiment. But, the question is, what are we prepared to do about it?”
She added: “Unfortunately, although we might be desperate for a bit more time in the land of nod, the majority of us seem to prioritise our time in the electronic realm instead. We need to wake up to the reality of the situation; our lives are effected severely by sleep deprivation and we’re really starting to struggle. We need to put our health first, so that we can continue to enjoy our daily lives. If technology has to take a backseat for a couple of hours a night, then so be it."