We’ve written previously about how work-related stress can impact your sleep—and now, a new Better Sleep Council survey finds that people who feel stressed on the job make up 44% of poor sleepers.
“More than ever before, daily life is competing for our sleep time,” says Terry Cralle, RN, certified clinical sleep educator and Saatva sleep consultant. “Thanks to an always-on society, the line between work time and off time is often blurred—emails and texts come at all hours, and many of us never really turn ‘off’ even when we’re not in the office.”
For the “State of America’s Sleep” survey, the Better Sleep Council questioned 2,000 American adults ranging in age from 18 to over 70 about their lifestyle and sleep habits. Here are some of the other interesting findings about the best and worst sleepers:
- Women make up 57% of poor sleepers, while men make up 43% of poor sleepers—which is not surprising given that insomnia is much more common in women. 71% of moms with kids under 18 are poor sleepers compared with 56% of dads.
- People who are concerned about their financial future make up 72% of poor sleepers, while people who regularly save money make up 52% of excellent sleepers. (Yet another reason to sock away those pennies!)
- Pet owners are out of luck: They represent 70% of poor sleepers. The good news is, we have tips on preventing your dog or cat from ruining your shut-eye.
- Adults in difficult relationships comprise 16% of poor sleepers and only 9% of excellent sleepers.
- Pain is a big sleep disruptor: People who have pain while sitting or standing represent 39% of poor sleepers and only 19% of excellent sleepers, while people who have pain while lying down represent 29% of poor sleepers and only 9% of excellent sleepers. Check out our expert strategies for sleeping better with chronic pain.
- Parents with children under 18 at home make up 34% of poor sleepers and 22% of excellent sleepers. Empty nesters are catching more Z’s, though, so that’s something to look forward to. They represent 78% of excellent sleepers.
Ready to improve your sleep habits? Follow this advice for avoiding the bedtime procrastination trap.
