A 2008 National Sleep Foundation (NSF) poll shows that Americans need more sleep! Due to longer work hours and worries about the economy, Americans are losing sleep and dozing off at work, in their cars, and in other places besides their beds.
“Nearly 50 million Americans chronically suffer from sleep problems and disorders that affect their careers, their personal relationships, and safety on our roads,” said Darrel Drobnich of the NSF. “Longer workdays and more access to colleagues and the workplace through the Internet and other technology appear to be causing Americans to get less sleep. Reciprocally, the effects of sleep loss on work performance are costing U.S. employers tens of billions of dollars a year in lost productivity. It’s time for American workers and employers to make sleep a priority,”
The NSF poll found that:
- 29 percent of those polled fell asleep or became very sleepy at work in the past month
- 36 percent have nodded off or fallen asleep while driving.
- 32 percent reported that they drive drowsy at least 1 to 2 times per month and 26 percent drive drowsy during the workday.
- 20 percent have sex less often or have lost interest in sex because they are too sleepy.
- 14 percent have missed family events, work functions, and leisure activities in the past month due to sleepiness.
- 12 percent were late to work in the past month because of sleepiness.
- 32 percent of those surveyed say they only get a good night’s sleep a few nights per month.
- 65 percent of Americans report experiencing a sleep problem, such as difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, and waking feeling unrefreshed at least a few times each week, with nearly half of those saying they experience that sleep problem almost every night.
- 10 percent of respondents said that they use sleep aids.
- Nearly half of those polled said that they wake up feeling unrefreshed in the morning or were awake a lot during the night several nights each week.
“Studies show that habitually getting inadequate sleep (less than seven or eight hours of sleep each night) creates long-lasting changes to one’s ability to think and function well during the day,” said Thomas J. Balkin, PhD, of the NSF. “These negative effects can accrue slowly over weeks, months, and even years of inadequate sleep habits and cannot simply be reversed by a few nights of good sleep.”
Longer Work Hours Lead to Poor Sleep Quality
“With Americans working such long hours on top of their other responsibilities like childcare and household maintenance, something has to give. Unfortunately, that something is usually nighttime sleep,” said Drobnich. “When work and daily activities demand so much of our time, sleep is often sacrificed. People tend to give up sleep, when getting a good night’s sleep should be at the top of everyone’s list to ensure maximum daytime performance both at work and home.”
Coping with Poor Sleep
The NSF poll also found that:
- 84 percent say that they just accept sleepiness and keep going.
- 58 percent of respondents say they consume caffeinated beverages.
- 38 percent say they choose foods high in sugar and carbohydrates.
- 37 percent say they will later take a nap.
- 5 percent take alerting medications.
Healthy Sleep Tips
You don’t have to be sleepy all the time or poison yourself with excessive sugar just to stay awake! Develop healthy sleep habits by following these tips:
- Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
- Exercise regularly, but do not exercise strenuously just before bedtime.
- Avoid caffeine for eight hours before bedtime, and avoid alcohol for six hours before bedtime.
- Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex. Remove distractions like TVs and computers.
- Sleep in a cool, dark room. Even the slightest amount of light may disturb your sleep.
- Develop a regular, relaxing bedtime routine.
Sounds Like Sleep audios, based on Brain Resonance Technology, provide the ideal relaxing bedtime routine. Simply listen to these specially designed audios every night at bedtime, and you’ll be able to fall asleep easier, sleep deeper, and feel more refreshed the next day.
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