What keeps US awake at night?

Forget sweet dreams, 34 per cent of Brits admit they are too busy worrying about work to enjoy a good nights sleep

23 October 2013 – With almost half of all Brits (48 per cent) feeling that they need at least eight hours sleep a night to feel refreshed, research from  has revealed that nearly two thirds of the UK (59 per cent) are losing two hours a night worrying about the issues of modern life. Our careers (34 per cent) and what's left in our bank accounts (33 per cent) play on our minds the most.

The top ten things that keep us awake at night

1.  Worrying about work (34%)
2. Worrying about money (33%)
3. Being too hot (31%)
4. Being too cold (20%)
5. Partner’s snoring (20%)
6. Worrying about health problems (19%)
7. Worrying about relationships (18%)
8. Partner tossing and turning (17%)
9. Noisy neighbours (13%)
10. The weather (9%)
     

Rather than accept restless nights, a variety of different methods are being used to aid better rest – counting sheep is a thing of the past. A third pick up a book or magazine to try and switch off and 15 per cent listen to music to help relax. Technology has also infiltrated this routine with one in ten listening to ‘rain noises’ through apps and 16% watch a film.

Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, a UCL expert in human behavior has teamed up with Direct Line to act as the ‘Director of Achievement’, helping the nation achieve their goals. He commented, ‘With our lives becoming more stressful, it’s clear to see the effect this is having on our sleep, with ‘bedtime brainstorms’ becoming a habit for Brits. It’s important to make yourself ‘switch off’ before sleep, and it’s been proven that listening to 45 minutes of relaxing music[1] before bed can help your brain to relax and prepare for a good nights sleep’.

Sadly, neither of the sexes are getting a full night's sleep – for entirely different reasons. Nearly two thirds of men (61 per cent) survive on less than six hours of sleep a night, with the average weekday bedtime of 11pm or later (51 per cent) in comparison to 60 per cent of women who hit the sack by 10pm. However, the extra time that women spend in bed isn't resulting in much more sleep – with 37 per cent admitting to often waking up throughout the night. The trend of ‘power naps’ is evident in younger Brits, with half of 18 -24 year olds regularly indulging in a 45-minute snooze to recharge during the day.

Only half (54 per cent) of Brits feel that they make the most of their free time, and 72 per cent admit to trying to do two things at once to create more time to do the things that they love. To help the nation enjoy their free time and forget about the worries that keep them awake at night, Direct Line has launched a series of ‘Moving Forwards’ events across the UK, including the ‘Cinigym’ and the upcoming ‘Sleeping Gigs’ – a full orchestra performance from the comfort of a four-poster bed. For further information please visit www.facebook.com/DirectLineUK.

Kerry Chilvers, Marketing Director at Direct Line, commented, “It’s clear to see we are busier than ever, with our sleep suffering as a result of worries. Direct Line knows that insurance can be something that keeps us up at night, and offers insurance coverage across a range of products so the only thing people have to worry about is where to fit in that power nap [1]!”
 

ENDS
 

Notes to editors

OnePoll carried out an online survey of 2,000 UK adults aged 18+ from 17th to 21st of October 2013. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria. Further statistics and information are available on request from Marie Morgan (marie.morgan@shinecom.com) or Isabel Blakemilton (Isabel.Blakemilton@shinecom.com).

Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 2,011 UK adults aged 18+ from 21st to 24th of September 2012.

[1] The effects of music on the sleep quality of adults with chronic insomnia using evidence from polysomnographic and self-reported analysis: a randomized control trial (2012)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22494532

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

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