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Health & Wellbeing
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We Surveyed 15,000 People
How well do you really know your own sleep? We studied the sleep patterns of 15,000 adults across the UK to uncover the truth behind our nightly routines. From tossing and turning to blissful slumbers, we discovered how we’re really snoozing and how our habits have evolved from 2022 to 2024. Ready for a peek under the covers?
Sleep Survey
First up, let’s get to know the people behind the survey and look at where they’re from across the UK:
East Midlands 8% East of England 9% London 15% North East 5% North West 12% Northern Ireland 2% Scotland 7% South East 12% South West 8% Wales 5% West Midlands 9% Yorkshire and the Humber 9%
The majority of our respondents are women, making up 63% of the total. We heard from a diverse age range, with participants from 18 to 65 and older. The most common age group? Those aged 25 to 34, who make up 21% of our survey.
On average, respondents spend 7 hours 22 minutes in bed, in total, per night. This average has stayed the same since 2022.
On average, they reported sleeping 6 hours a night in bed. And this is a 1.7% increase since 2022.
So, what’s keeping us busy when we’re not catching Zzzs? Let’s take a look…
Results
Curious about how people wind down before drifting off? So were we! It turns out most folks (52%) cosy up with some TV before bed. Is that your go-to routine, too?
Next came:
We found that, on average, people wake up about 2.1 times a week due to pain or discomfort, which is a 4.5% improvement since 2022. Additionally, respondents reported having a disrupted or poor night’s sleep around 3.3 times a week – a 10.8% improvement from two years ago. 4% of people said they’ve never experienced these issues, which is consistent with 2022.
If you’re interested in why we struggle with sleep as a nation, here are some key reasons:
Only 6% of people said they always wake up feeling refreshed but that’s a 10.6% increase since 2022. We’re on the right track to better sleep.
Most people, 88%, have shared a bed with a partner at some point. Interestingly, 24% of them said they sleep better when their partner isn’t in bed.
Here’s what respondents find a bit bothersome about sharing a bed:
18% of people said they’d prefer having a pet in bed over a partner! Meanwhile, 66% enjoy having their pets snuggle up with them because they love their company. It seems our furry friends make for the best bedtime buddies! And, of course, our children; 38% of people said they allow their kids in their beds, too.
Almost two-fifths (38%) usually prefer to sleep in pyjamas.
Nearly a fifth (19%) prefer to sleep naked.
While 18% prefer to sleep in underwear only.
We asked the nation why your bed is important to you. Here’s what they said…
Are you an early bird or a night owl? It’s pretty impressive that 23% of people are up before 6 am.
54% said they go to bed between 10 pm and 12 am. It’s no wonder 29% of respondents hit their snooze button 1 to 5 times per week.
Next, let’s talk about the average amount of times people switch up their bedding each month and how it varies by region:
East Midlands 3.8 times East of England 3.9 times London 5.4 times North East 4.1 times North West 4.2 times Northern Ireland 4.1 times Scotland 4.3 times South East 3.7 times South West 3.4 times Wales 4 times West Midlands 4.3 times Yorkshire and the Humber 3.8 times
Turns out, people have been enjoying their current mattress for about 6.1 years on average. We also looked into how often other bed essentials get replaced. Here’s what we found:
Bed frame average lifespan: 8.1 years
Pillow’s average lifespan: 3.38 years
Duvet average lifespan: 3.97 years
2022 vs 2024
Something curious has been happening under the covers in the UK – quite literally. The way Britons sleep is subtly but surely shifting, reflecting not just changes in personal routines but the broader landscape of our modern lives.
The average time people in the UK spend in bed remains steadfast at 7.4 hours, echoing the importance of a full night’s rest.
However, actual sleep time has seen a slight uptick, with the average now creeping up to 6 hours – up from 5.9 hours in 2022. Nearly half of the population is now sleeping between 5 to 6 hours, though this still falls short of the recommended amount.
On a brighter note, fewer people are finding themselves tossing and turning at night. The frequency of disturbed sleep has notably decreased, with the average number of restless nights dropping to 3.3 per week, down from 3.7 in 2022. Additionally, the number of people experiencing nightly disturbances has fallen to 17%, a positive shift from the 21% reported in 2022. And those who never experience disturbed sleep remain a small but consistent group at 4%.
This improvement in sleep quality might explain why more people are waking up feeling refreshed. In 2024, a higher percentage of people – 33%, compared to 27% in 2022 – reported that they always or mostly feel refreshed upon waking. Similarly, those who rarely or never wake up refreshed have decreased to 32%, down from 38% in 2022.
Could this improvement be linked to the slight decline in screen time before bed? Perhaps. Fewer people are watching TV as a bedtime ritual compared to 2022 (-3.7%), and social media use before sleep has notably decreased (-19%). It seems we Brits are slowly realising that a good night’s sleep might just start with a little less scrolling.
Yet, the battle for quality sleep is far from over. The UK’s unpredictable weather might be charming, but it’s also becoming a significant sleep disruptor.
Being too hot has now overtaken other culprits as the top reason for disturbed sleep, with 37% of people tossing and turning due to rising nighttime temperatures – an 8.1% increase since 2022. And as if the heat wasn’t enough, physical discomfort is making its presence felt – pain-related wake-ups are on the rise, with more than a third of people experiencing this kind of disturbance.
While stress still lurks in the background, causing sleepless nights for 31% of people, its grip has loosened slightly by 8.8%. Perhaps the growing mindfulness and relaxation trends are taking the edge off anxiety. Nervousness about the next day has also eased, now affecting 18% of people, down from 24% in 2022. However, this remains a bigger issue for those under 34, with 22% of young adults still feeling that pre-sleep anxiety.
Money worries are another sleep thief! In 2024, 19% of people reported losing sleep over financial concerns, down from 23% in 2022. But for those in London, the burden is heavier, with 21% still lying awake, troubled by thoughts of their finances.
On a more positive note, fewer people are being kept awake by their partner snoring, which has decreased to 16%, down from 20% in 2022. And for parents, there’s a small sigh of relief – young children are waking up fewer times in the night, with only 9% affected in 2024, compared to 16% in 2022.
While progress is being made, it’s clear that the road to a perfect night’s sleep is still a winding one.
The dramas of dreamland seem to be softening. Fewer people (-38.8%) now wake up feeling as if a dream about their partner really happened – a relief for those who might otherwise face a groggy morning of misplaced annoyance!
Shared beds are also becoming more harmonious spaces, with common gripes like snoring (-7.27%) and bed-hogging (-13.16%) becoming less of an issue in 2024 versus 2022. Does this suggest that couples are finding better ways to coexist during those precious hours of rest? Maybe it’s due to improved mattress technology, or perhaps we’re just getting better at finding the right sleeping positions.
In this year’s survey, it seems fewer of us are letting our furry friends snuggle up in bed, with 37% allowing their pets to share their sleep space, down slightly from 39% two years ago.
Nearly one in five (18%) people admitted they’d actually rather sleep with their pet than with their partner. There’s just something about that cosy, unconditional love that makes a pet the perfect bedtime companion. However, love for our human partners still holds strong. About half of us (49%, a slight dip from 52% in 2022) continue to prefer sharing the bed with our significant other rather than our pets.
Fashion, even in sleepwear, is not immune to change. While pyjamas remain the sleepwear of choice for most, there’s been a slight shift towards more minimal options, with an increase in those preferring to sleep in just underwear. Maybe it’s the heat, or perhaps it’s simply the desire for comfort.
As people settle into bed, the emotions they experience have evolved as well. The feeling of relaxation has become more common, with 37% of respondents now feeling relaxed when they crawl under the covers, up slightly from 35% in 2022. Those aged 65 and older are particularly likely to feel this way. Meanwhile, the number of people feeling exhausted has seen a significant drop, decreasing to 36% from 48% in 2022. A new emotion on the radar is relief, with 21% of people in 2024 feeling this way when they finally hit the pillow.
Working from home has also brought about a napping renaissance. With more people taking frequent naps during the workday, it seems the flexibility of remote work is allowing the UK to embrace the power of the siesta. In fact, 45% of respondents admit to napping when working from home, with frequent nappers (those who always or often nap) increasing to 14% in 2024, up from 10% in 2022. On the flip side, the number of people who never nap has decreased to 19% from 29% in 2022. Young adults aged 18-24 are leading the charge in frequent napping, with 19% reporting they nap often. However, not everyone is working from home – 37% of respondents never do, a slight increase from 35% in 2022.
Whether it’s adjusting sleepwear or embracing mid-day naps, the UK is clearly finding new ways to rest and recharge.
Interestingly, our relationships with our beds are lasting longer than ever. The average mattress in the UK is now over 6 years old, and bed frames are hanging around for even longer at an average of 8.1 years.
While we may be holding onto our beds for more extended periods, we’re still diligent about cleanliness, with most people sticking to a weekly or biweekly sheet-changing routine.
And in line with the nation’s growing eco-consciousness, more people are turning to sustainable methods for disposing of their old mattresses. The trend towards recycling through mattress retailers is on the rise, reflecting a broader shift towards environmental responsibility.
The UK’s sleep habits are slowly evolving, reflecting changes in technology, work-life balance, and even the climate.
While some challenges remain the same, such as managing the heat and dealing with physical discomfort, we’re finding new ways to sleep better as a nation. For more snooze-worthy data, make sure you check out The 2022 UK Sleep Survey.
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