* This is a sponsored post for TEMPUR® *
As a society, our busy lives are taking their toll on our physical and mental health. More and more people are reporting being stressed and anxious, and their quality of sleep is being affected by this. TEMPUR® has conducted its first ever Sleep vs Mental Health Survey in the UK, and this post is looking at the results and the importance of sleep.
Lack of sleep is definitely something we can relate to at the moment with a newborn and a toddler who doesn't seem to like sleeping. Whilst we won't be getting a full night's sleep any time soon, there are things we can do to improve our quality of sleep. Poor sleep has such a negative effect on our mood, eating habits and productivity and it seems we aren't the only ones.
Sleep and Mental Health
Do you lay awake at night with something on your mind? You are not alone! The TEMPUR® survey was conducted on 2,000 UK respondents aged 18+ and revealed that that two-thirds of Brits (64%) lay awake at night worrying about something. The two major culprits were stress (27%) and anxiety (26%), topping other late-night concerns such as family worries, money worries and work stress.
It takes me so long to drift off to sleep, no matter how tired I am. I find myself thinking of all the things I didn't do that day and what I need to do tomorrow. One thing that helped me was to write down a to-do list before I went to bed, so I had a plan for the next day - there was no need to worry about it then.
It is recommended that adults aged 18-25 get seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and seven to eight hours for 26-64 year olds, however over a quarter of Brits (27%) get less than six hours sleep per night, and 9% get less than five. The majority of Brits are not getting the recommended amount of sleep, and that is having a huge effect on their mental health. How much sleep are you getting?
How Does It Affect Our Mental Health?
Three in ten (30%) said that poor quality sleep has an impact on their mental health. Younger age groups suffer the worst, with the statistic rising to just over half (51%) of those aged 18-24 admitting that poor quality sleep affects their mental health. When we take into consideration that 27% of respondents regularly check emails or messages and 24% regularly use social media before going to bed, it’s no surprise that our constant switched-on status is causing us to feel stressed. This is a huge issue for the younger generation.
I have started turning my phone off at 9pm every night, so I am not scrolling through Instagram just before bed. That has helped me get to sleep quicker, and I can spend that time before bed doing something like reading or meditating.
Poor quality sleep also affects our work (21%), fitness (20%) and diet (18%), showing just how important sleep is for overall health and wellbeing, as well as our mental health. When you are tired you are more likely to turn to sugar for an energy boost and are likely to be less productive at work when the afternoon energy slump hits.
Improving Sleep Quality
When it comes to attempting to sleep better, half of Brits (51%) have tried exercise to improve their sleep quality, while a quarter (26%) have tried meditation. Ways of improving sleep are becoming ever-more popular, including apps focusing on mindfulness or meditation, yoga, natural remedies and trying to naturally wind down before bed. I use the Calm app to relax and I do some yoga too.
Seven in ten Brits (72%) say they consider a new mattress to be an investment to their mental and physical health. However, 21% of respondents admitted that they did not know what type of mattress they currently use. To maximise sleep quality, TEMPUR® recommends taking the time to choose the perfect mattress for you. We got a new mattress recently and it made a huge difference.
Who are TEMPUR®?
With a history of over 167 years of ground-breaking innovation, TEMPUR® has made leaps and bounds in the research, development, and manufacture of mattresses, pillows, and other sleep and relaxation products.
They were first created by NASA in the 1970s to cushion astronauts during lift-off as they journeyed into space. Today, after much research and development, TEMPUR® material is used to make mattresses and pillows that evenly distribute weight and pressure, ensuring a comfortable night’s sleep.
Today, TEMPUR® material lies at the core of all their mattresses and pillows and is still the only mattress product recognised by NASA and certified by the Space Foundation. TEMPUR® offer four ranges of mattresses, each with a unique feel and variety of features. All their mattresses feature unique TEMPUR® material, which conforms to the weight and warmth of your body to offer pressure relief and personalised support. TEMPUR® material is unique in that it returns to its original shape for the lifetime of the product – unlike ordinary memory foam mattresses.
Read more information and statistics on sleep in our post on 10 Tips For A Healthy Night's Sleep.
The Yoga Institute Goa
Sleep is very important for our well-being. Our mind is driven by it a lot. One should focus on improving his/her sleep.