Top reasons Brits struggle to sleep - from general stress, to money worries

03 April 2023 , 12:59

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One in seven Brits say they feel constantly tired or weary (Image: Elena Fedorina/Getty Images)

One in seven Brits (14%) say they feel constantly tired – with general stress (42%) and money worries (24%) among some of the top things keeping them up at night.

Being too hot or too cold, and their partner snoring, are other common distractions that keep weary Brits tossing and turning at all hours.

And one in five (19%) blame relationship issues, while 29% struggle to get work off their mind.

As a result, the average adult utters the words “I'm tired” out loud three times a day – and 10%, of the 2,000 people polled, say the phrase five times or more.

Being overtired has caused 22% to burst into tears, and 24% to have an argument with their partner – while a fifth have fallen ill from lack of sleep.

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But 63% try to avoid stress triggers right before going to bed, with 60% blaming these for their inability to sleep.

More than a fifth read a book before bed as a way of de-stressing (SWNS)

Reading a book (22%), and switching phones off completely (17%), are some of the most popular ways to de-stress at night.

And 30% have left their phone on charge in another room overnight, to stop them looking at it too close to lights-out.

Dr Ranj Singh, sleep and wellness ambassador at Furniture Village, which commissioned the research as part of its campaign for a better night’s sleep, said: “There's a lot going on which can impact our sleep – especially right now.

“Being awake can be stressful enough, and if you’re not getting the sleep you need to recharge your brain and body, that can have a serious long-term impact.

“Having disjointed sleep every now and then isn’t unusual – but if it’s every night, you will find your energy levels dwindling, and your ability to cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life will significantly reduce.”

The research also found one in five find it difficult – if not impossible – to pinpoint exactly why they have had a bad night’s sleep.

But Brits believe they need seven hours and 15 minutes of kip each night to be fully functional – with just one in ten feeling like they get “more than enough”.

Instead, the average adult reckons they fail to get the requisite number of hours on three nights out of seven each week.

As a result, 54% of sleep-deprived citizens reported feeling irritable due to tiredness, and will have two naps a week to supplement their sleep.

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Three in ten charge their phone in a different room, to avoid looking at it before lights-out (Sergey Mironov/Getty Images)

It also emerged that when tired, 32% have eschewed healthy food and turned to junk items instead.

And one in four adults polled, via OnePoll, have even been so concerned about their ongoing tiredness, that they’ve seen a doctor or medical professional.

Dr Ranj, who has created top tips to combat stress for those wanting a perfect night of sleep, added: “The things keeping Brits awake at night are a mix of mental and physical.

“It’s difficult to sleep if you’re in a noisy or stimulating environment, if you’re uncomfortable, or your pillow and mattress aren’t providing the right support.

“In fact, 58% of people said having a decent mattress was very important when it comes to making sure they have a good night’s sleep.

“People aren’t averse to trying to improve their physical sleeping conditions either, with 28% getting new pillows, while 24% had got a new mattress.

“But similarly, many issues are psychological – stress, work, or money worries, or problems in your relationship, can also have people staring at the ceiling during the witching hour.”

TOP 20 THINGS KEEPING BRITS UP AT NIGHT:

1. Being too hot
2. General stress
3. A blocked nose
4. Being too cold
5. Work worries
6. Partner snoring
7. A bad tummy
8. Worrying about personal finances
9. Being in an unusual location
10. Worrying about the cost-of-living crisis
11. An uncomfortable mattress
12. Relationship issues
13. Napping in the daytime
14. An argument with a partner when trying to sleep
15. Traffic noise outside
16. Difficult home life
17. Jetlag after returning from a holiday
18. Kids struggling to sleep – so they kept me up
19. Baby crying
20. Allergies making me sneeze

Andrew Young