Sleeptember starts on Friday!
Friday 1 September is the start of Sleeptember! The theme for this year is "sleep education" with The Sleep Charity's #KnowYourSleep campaign.
Throughout September the charity will be exploring:
- what sleep is;
- why it is important;
- what can you do to encourage quality slumber.
Sleeptember
The charity has also created an eBook "Understanding Your Sleep" for anyone wanting to know more about or improve the quality of their sleep. As part of their eBook, they carried out two surveys which highlighted some crucial statistics on the nation's sleep, and provides a better idea of the bigger picture:
- around four in 10 children will experience a sleep problem at some point, and this rises to eight out of 10 children where there is a diagnosis of Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND);
- 29% of adults tune into TV to help them drift off rather than seek professional advice, and a fifth cited they sleep poorly, regularly;
- over a quarter of adults aged 45+ sleep poorly, compared to 14% of those under 24;
- 43% of us cite stress and worry as the biggest obstacle to getting good sleep;
- 20% of road deaths are related to fatigue;
- sleep deprivation costs the UK economy an estimated £40.2 billion;
- 21% of GP consultations in the UK have tiredness and fatigue as the primary cause.
Sleep issues and the workplace
It is estimated that 40% of employees will suffer from sleep issues, which will impact their mood, and ability to concentrate, and may lead to mistakes being made. It is estimated that 200,000 working days are lost in the UK every year because of insufficient sleep.
According to a survey by The Sleep Charity, in partnership with OnePoll:
- over 50% of British workers say they take time off work due to feeling tired or not having enough sleep;
- 38% of workers admit to forgetting things and being less productive as a result of not getting enough sleep;
- 25% of 45 to 55-year-olds come into work tired most days;
- one in five 25 to 34-year-olds fail to turn up to work at all due to feeling tired;
- 28% of 18 to 24-year-olds leave work early due to tiredness.
Employers need to consider:
- sleep issues as part of their staff's wellbeing and their risk assessments;
- understanding sleep deprivation and providing a space for employees to talk about their issues without judgement;
- that shift workers are being supported appropriately; and
- that professionals who support those with sleep issues must receive appropriate training.
What can I do to help aid sleep?
For individuals, to help improve their chances of sleeping well, small changes can have a huge impact on your sleep quality and quantity:
- change the way you wind down at bedtime by making sure you are relaxing. Ways to do this include:
- having a bath before bed,
- listening to soothing music,
- reading,
- meditation,
- stretching or yoga,
- avoid using technology before bed as it stimulates the brain making it harder for you to switch off;
- if you can establish a regular sleep pattern;
- keep your bedroom for rest and sleep, with a relaxing and comfortable environment;
- try to avoid caffeine four to five hours before bedtime, and cut out alcohol until you have got your sleep patterns under control, and then keep within recommended limits;
- avoid big meals and spicy food before bedtime as they can lead to discomfort and indigestion. Instead snacks that contain complex carbohydrates, protein and calcium are the best to induce sleep;
- avoid clock watching and worrying about not falling asleep straight away.
If you want to speak to a professional you can contact the National Sleep helpline on 03303 530 541 who are available:
- Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7 to 9pm;
- Monday and Wednesday mornings 9 to 11am.
For more information on this subject, see:
