Over a third of adults often wake up feeling tired – despite hitting the hay before 10pm.
A study of 2,000 adults found they typically go to bed at 9:54pm – but despite this somewhat reasonable bedtime, four in ten describe themselves as a bad sleeper.
And six in ten reckon their bedtime routine could be better.
Waking in the night, tossing and turning while asleep, and thinking about lots of things, prevent people from feeling well rested come morning time.
But only a quarter (24%) sleep more soundly when tucking themselves in earlier in the evening.
A spokesman for furniture retailer DFS, which commissioned the survey, said: “Our study has shown how the actual time we go to bed can have a real impact on our sleeping routine as a whole.
“The hours of sleep we get is of course important, but the way we prepare ourselves and get “into the zone” of sleep is also vital.”
Anne Marie Boyhan, sleep expert at The Sleep Care Co., said: “Sleep is a foundational pillar of health. Proper rest isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.
“That’s why it’s important to focus on habits that will support quality sleep.”
The study found three in ten adults can’t go to bed any earlier than 10pm, while over half (54%) need it to be completely dark outside before calling it a night – a more difficult feat in the summer months.
The typical morning wake-up time for Brits is 6:42am – but many still reckon they get less than five hours of “quality” sleep a night.
In a bid to get better sleep, 27% need to make sure all the doors are locked before they turn in for the evening.
And 20% need to ensure the room is the right temperature, while a third can’t get to sleep unless they’ve got that freshly brushed teeth feeling.
Putting on hand cream, getting prepped for the following morning, and tying up their hair or getting it out of the way, were also among the top 20 things Brits need to do before they go to bed to sleep well.
Complete silence will help 54% to get some rest, whereas a quarter like to listen to something to help them drift off.
TV shows or films playing in the background proved to be the most popular tool for lulling adults off to sleep, followed by nature sounds and music.
The study, conducted via OnePoll, found just one in three (32%) would refer to themselves as a “good sleeper”.
Falling asleep quickly, being disturbed by little in the night, and feeling well rested in the morning, were among the top signs someone is a better sleeper than others.
Anne Marie Boyhan added: “If you’re struggling to sleep, set up your bedroom’s environment for sleep success.
“Focus on creating a pitch-black bedroom, and avoid blue light from screens one hour before bed.
“Also, ensure you get natural light during the day. If sunlight reaches your eyes in the morning, it sets your biological clock and triggers the timing of the hormones cortisol and melatonin, which affect sleep.”
And the DFS spokesman added: “We all need sleep – some more than others – but we all still need quality sleep.
“We want to encourage the nation to get into better sleeping habits, and this doesn’t have to mean making major changes.
“Instead, focus on establishing a routine that works for you and sticking with it, investing in this where you need to – such as by purchasing a new mattress, or taking time for yourself to unwind.”
TOP 20 THINGS ADULTS NEED TO DO TO HELP THEM SLEEP:
- Curtains/blinds closed
- Dark room
- Brush their teeth
- Snuggle under the duvet
- Lock the doors
- Make sure no lights are on in the house
- More than one pillow
- Get the temperature just right in the room
- Make sure doors are shut
- Make sure there are no blinking lights – like on a fire alarm
- Shut the windows
- Switch off strange sounds, like bathroom extractor fan
- Wash their face
- No noise/use ear plugs
- Get prepped for the following morning
- Watch a TV show
- No electronic devices nearby
- Shower/wash before bed
- Put on hand cream
- Tie their hair up/out of the way
