The UK has now been in lockdown for one whole year due to the pandemic and there’s no denying that we’ve all found it extremely difficult in one way or another. The knock-on effects of COVID-19 have been devastating, with people’s health, jobs and finances all taking a hit. The past year has brought a lot of stress and more often than not, this can lead to a lack of sleep.
It’s more than likely that the majority of people have experienced a bad night’s sleep in the past year due to pandemic-related stress. Whether it’s worrying about a family member or how stable your job is, there are many factors that could have contributed to your sleeping patterns being affected.
To explore this topic in more detail, TRIP conducted a survey to find out how the nation’s sleeping habits have been impacted during the national lockdown, as well as sharing some tips on how you can improve your quality of sleep. After reading through the survey results, I wanted to share some of the most interesting data with you.
What did TRIP’s survey uncover?
After reading through the findings, I was shocked to learn that 85% of people said their sleeping habits had been negatively impacted as a result of the lockdown, which goes to show just how much of an impact it has had on the nation. When looking at the reasons behind people experiencing broken sleep, financial worries came out on top as the most common cause.
It’s inevitable that we’ll all have experienced stress over the past year, but each individual will have worried about different things. The survey revealed that 50% of people believe not seeing their friends and family has been by far the most stressful part of the past year, which is extremely understandable.
How can you improve your quality of sleep?
It can feel really exhausting and frustrating when you can’t get a good night’s sleep, but there are a number of ways that you can promote better sleeping patterns. To begin with, focus on your diet and make sure you’re not eating big meals or sugary foods around bedtime. It’s also worth trying to cut back on caffeinated drinks past midday, as this can be a big factor in a lack of sleep.
Secondly, see your bedroom as a place to relax and unwind, so remove any devices such as your phone or laptop. When you’re struggling to get to sleep, it’s very easy to pick up your phone and scroll through social media, but the lights from your screen will increase your alertness and make the situation worse.
It’s also important to try and get yourself into a routine when it comes to going to sleep and waking up. Most people get up early in the week for work and then have a lie-in at the weekend to make up for it, but this can do more harm than good. Try and go to bed at the same time each night and then set an alarm for when it’s time to wake up.
I’d love to hear what you thought of the data revealed by TRIP and if you have experienced a lack of sleep due to the national lockdown. Leave your comments below and let me know what you think.