What’s Stopping You From Getting a Good Night’s Sleep?

Money worries still cause 22 per cent of people in Ireland to lose sleep.

Thats according to Ireland’s first National Sleep Survey, commissioned by King Koil to mark the month of Sleeptember.

We still haven't mastered the art of leaving the office at the office either, as work is a worry for 16 per cent of respondents, and family worries disturb a further 16 per cent, disrupting sleep.

The sleep survey also revealed that 18 per cent of us are regularly disturbed by children in the night, 14 per cent of people lose sleep on account of spending too much time on a smart phone or tablet in bed, and 13 per cent of people are disturbed by their partner snoring or moving excessively.

The month of September has been dedicated ‘Sleeptember’, with a campaign backed by popular GP Nina Byrnes designed to provide advice on good sleep and its health benefits.

Overall, only 36 per cent of people think they are getting the sleep they need.  The over 65s are most satisfied with their level of sleep.

Across all age groups, 42 per cent of survey respondents reported getting 8 hours sleep at night, which is right on target, as 7-9 hours’ sleep is the recommended amount for optimum health. Just 7 per cent of people said they get less than 6 hours sleep a night.

It seems single life gets between us and our slumber, as 70 per cent of singles admitted to not getting enough sleep on weeknights, and some regularly ‘binge sleeping’ at the weekend with all-day lie-ins.

The most common attempts to improve sleep included reducing time spent online or watching TV, a solution favoured by 26 per cent of respondents. Sixteen per cent of people say they take a hot bath if having difficulty sleeping, and a further 16 per cent opt for a warm drink to help get to sleep.

To compensate for lack of sleep 31 per cent of people admit they over-indulge in caffeine the following day. More dramatically, 15 per cent reported calling in sick at work, on more than one occasion, following a sleepless night.

Apart from being physically tired, 39 per cent of people said they are irritable and emotional when they do not get enough sleep. A further 30 per cent admitted to being forgetful, 28 per cent are unfocussed at work and 18 per cent described themselves as ‘anti-social’ after a sleepless night.

Dr Nina Byrnes said: "We should never underestimate the restorative power of a good night’s sleep.  Both those having difficulty sleeping, and those who sleep with them, are affected, so it is very important to discuss the issue and seek medical advice."