The cause and effect
According to a number of studies and sources, British workers nationwide are suffering from either a chronic lack of sleep or poor quality sleep. This sleep deficit has been linked with increased stress, extended periods of time spent in front of a computer as well as taking work home from the office.
After evaluating the economic cost of sleep in five different countries including the UK, US, Canada, Germany and Japan, it was found that the UK was losing up to £40 billion each year through loss of productivity as a direct result of poor sleep; this equates to nearly two percent of the UK’s GDP.
The effects of sleep deprivation are harrowing to say the least. Sleeping is as vital a function for your body as eating and breathing, and when we go without it for even short periods of time it starts to take its toll on our bodies in a number of different ways. The most obvious effect is a feeling of fatigue and lack of focus, but a prolonged lack of sleep can cause the onset of symptoms such as increased blood pressure, emotional instability, and a heightened chance of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and death.
This is bad news for British workers, some of whom are getting less than five hours sleep per night, with only one in seven saying they feel fully rested when they wake.
The solution
Ideally a person should be getting between six and eight hours to minimize mortality risks. While in theory this might sound easier than in practice, there are a number of things you can do to maximize both your sleep and quality of sleep.
Invest in a good mattress, one that regulates your body temperature and will support your body fully. Do your homework on this one. If you’re buying online then check out a review site for a comprehensive breakdown of mattress quality. You want one that checks all the boxes of a reliable mattress like this product by Eve.
Be sure to turn off all gadgets or stimuli at least half an hour before bed. Instead of watching a film or TV show, try reading a book while you lie in bed to wind down. You could also try having a hot bath before bed to soothe your body.
Set a bed time and stick to it. If you know you have to wake up at 6am, then make sure you’re in bed at 10:30pm at the latest. You might not get to do as much as you hoped, but you’re trading in quantity for quality; by resting more, the hours you spend awake will be both more productive and more pleasant.
