Third of all Brits have nightmares about job - including being naked at work

13 January 2024 , 11:03

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Work doesn't just occupy our waking hours, for many of us it also haunts our dreams (Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)

Millions of Brits regularly have nightmares about their jobs, including dreams about being naked at work or having sex with their boss, a new survey claims.

Nearly half of Brits (46%) have been dreading resuming their job in January after the festive period, the survey found. More than a third (34%) said they routinely have nightmares about work and 22% suffered them over Christmas. The most common bad dream, cited by 23% of those asked, is making a big blunder that causes a career-ending 'work disaster'.

Being fired, late for work and overwhelmed by work, were other common themes mentioned by participants. The survey of 2,000 Brits carried out for mattress firm eveSleep found that workers also often have bad dreams about their boss or colleagues.

While Six per cent have had nightmares about being naked at work while three per cent have imagined being killed by their boss and two per cent having sex with their superior.

Nearly half 45 per cent admit that they found 2023 more stressful than the previous year with the cost of living cited by 67% of them. Other common causes of concern are lack of sleep (39%), work troubles (26%) and family difficulties (22%).

'My neighbour's screaming baby keeps me up all night - I'm sick of it'

Four in ten (43%) said they struggle to sleep because of work and 15 per cent dream about escaping the rat race when they do finally nod off. Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings said "Quality sleep is the best present you can give to the busy mind.

"We naturally dream about work sometimes in nightmare form because it is such a central aspect of our daily lives and impacts a multitude of concerns from our sense of well-being and our finances to our purpose in life.”

Tim Stewart