Coronavirus lockdown Brits are sleeping longer – but having more broken sleep amid anxiety
LOCKDOWN Brits are sleeping longer - but having a worse night’s sleep due to a change in routine, general worry and late night snacking.
Research found the average adult got six hours and 43 minutes of sleep on a typical weekday night before the coronavirus pandemic.
But a lack of school runs and commuting has seen the average adult getting around an hour of extra sleep each week – just under seven hours on each weeknight.
And 13 per cent are regularly exceeding their recommended eight hours rest – up from just seven per cent before the lockdown.
Despite this, nearly one in four admitted their quality of sleep is worse than ever as they are kept up by worries and the change in their routine.
The study of 2,000 UK adults, commissioned by eve sleep, also revealed that snacking closer to bedtime and working later into the evenings are leading to a more disturbed night’s sleep.
Cheryl Calverley, CMO at eve sleep said: “Routine is hugely influential on how we sleep – not just for how long but the quality of sleep itself.
“Simply going to bed and waking up the same time every day can have a huge impact on how we feel the following morning, leaving us better able to deal with the anxiety and uncertainty we’re all facing.”
The study also found 27 per cent are looking at screens closer to bedtime more now, which is causing them to have a worse night’s sleep.
Top 10 reasons Brits Are Having A Worse Night’s Sleep
1. The general change of routine
2. General worries about coronavirus
3. Worries about family members getting sick
4. Worries about my health/ my family's health in general
5. Worries about catching coronavirus myself
6. Worries about finances
7. Worries about going outside to do things like food shopping
8. Looking at screens closer to bedtime such as watching TV or checking social media
9. Worries about work
10. Reading the news before bed
And nearly one in 10 are exercising later than before social distancing measures were introduced, while as many as 48 per cent are kept up worrying about coronavirus.
As a result, 47 per cent have noticed their dream habits changing, with 14 per cent tossing and turning more in their sleep from their nocturnal adventures.
More than one in 10 are even seeing their daytime worries continue into their dreams.
The research, conducted via OnePoll, also revealed how this change in people’s sleeping patterns is impacting their daily lives for better and for worse.
Nearly a fifth are cooking more often and one in 10 are eating better, while 13 per cent are more willing to keep fit.
In fact, one in four said they are exercising more than before, and it allows them to sleep for longer and go into a deeper sleep.
Although 23 per cent are snacking more as a result of their current sleeping patterns, and 31 per cent are watching more TV.
But there are certainly benefits to staying at home, as a fifth said it allows them to take more time for themselves and ‘slow down’, and 22 per cent said they’re able to spend more time with family.
The study also revealed the spots people are doing their work from, with nearly a fifth working from their sofa and more than one in 10 working from their bed.
It also emerged 15 per cent of parents said their children are going to bed later and 40 per cent said their kids are waking up later as well.
Consequently, 32 per cent are worried about getting themselves and their family back into their old sleeping routines when life goes back to normal.
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