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Research reveals the UK’s most tiring jobs!

Struggling to get some shut eye? It might be your job. New research has revealed that you may be missing up to TWO WEEK’S sleep each year as a result of your work, and those at risk of may surprise you.

With experts recommending the average Brit should aim to get between seven and eight hours sleep each night, the new study, conducted by Sealy, has revealed the alarming rate in which sleep deprivation is sweeping the UK – with the majority of people (77%) failing to get the rest and recovery time needed to feel healthy and happy.

The UK’s sleep debt chart – who gets the least sleep?

Mums rank the highest of all groups when it comes to sleep deprivation, with one quarter sleeping for less than five hours a night – that’s two full week’s sleep a year

Those in transport, communication, construction and utilities are also missing out, with one-in-five (an average of 20%) sleeping for less than five hours

In third place are those in public sector roles, including admin, education and health, amongst service industries, such as the hospitality sector and retail, with 82% getting just six hours sleep While the majority of those in finance and banking (just over 30%) average on six to seven hours of sleep per night, one-in 10 get less than five hours of sleep

The study forms the latest phase of Sealy’s Worldwide Sleep Census, which polled more than 15,000 respondents across the globe, and is being launched to help it better understand the sleep pressures imposed on different job roles.

Expert reveals the scale of sleep deprivation for UK mums

Neil Robinson, an expert on sleep at Sealy, comments on the study: “When we think of bankers and financiers, we imagine huge stress levels, sleepless nights and 80-hour working weeks, but this research flips that concept on its head, and shows that despite these being hard professions, the most exhausting jobs are surely other sectors.

“With a huge proportion of mums and those working in transport, communication, construction and utilities getting less than five hours sleep per night, it really highlights the extent of the problem. Quality and unbroken sleep is essential for our health and wellbeing, so despite many of us being high-functioning even when sleep deprived, it is important for people to get quality rest so that when they do get time to sleep it really counts. Establishing a routine can be one way to do that, as well as investing in a good quality, supportive mattress.”

Want to improve your chances of a good night’s sleep? These top tips can help you get quality and longing lasting rest – regardless of your job role:

Stick to your sleep patterns

Despite the mornings now being brighter and your social diary becoming more exciting as we head into summer, it’s important to try to maintain a sleeping routine. Now the clocks have changed, it’s important to get up at the same time as you always have as well as ensuring you go to bed an hour earlier. Routine is vital when it comes to your body clock – and yes that means on weekends too!

Get your duvet right

It’s highly important to get your head around duvet tog ratings – the higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet will be. In the summer months, a 2.5-7 tog is perfect, whereas a 13.5-15 tog duvet would be better in winter.

Be drink aware

We all know that drinking too much caffeine before bed can cause a restless night’s sleep, but did you know that alcohol rapidly reduces REM sleep? 70% of Brits admitted they could function better at work if they slept better – so perhaps think twice when you go for those after work drinks.

Get fit and healthy

Take advantage of the improving weather by getting outside and doing some exercise. This will keep your energy levels high and will help you feel more tired by the evening. Maintaining a good diet is also important in helping your overall energy levels, so make sure you enjoy a diet rich in energy boosting foods such as fruits, vegetables and nuts as well as plenty of water.

Become a morning person

With 76% of UK residents recognising that their personal life would benefit from a better quality of sleep, why not adopt a ‘seize the day’ attitude in the mornings? Many people are kept awake at night consumed with busy thoughts, but by preparing yourself for the next day the night before, you will enjoy a stress-free sleep and avoid that early morning panic. Write a list of all your morning jobs, get your work bag ready, or pack your lunch all in preparation for that inevitable morning rush.

Avoid napping

This may seem like an obvious one but try to avoid naps during the day to enjoy a fuller night’s sleep. If you do feel the need to get some shut-eye though make sure you just limit it to just 10-20 minutes.

Neil continued: “We all lead such busy lives these days that getting a good night’s sleep can slip down the agenda but this is as essential for good health as exercise and nutrition. The quality of our sleep directly affects the quality of our daily lives, including mental sharpness, productivity, emotional balance, creativity, energy, and even our weight. No other activity delivers so many benefits with so little effort!

“When we sleep our body and brain don’t actually shut off - we have light sleep phases and deeper ones. While we sleep in the deeper phases, our brain stays busy, overseeing an internal maintenance schedule that keeps us running in top condition. This helps the body repair itself and build energy for the day ahead - our muscles and tissues recover, our immune system gets a boost and all the information we have absorbed during the day gets consolidated in our memory. Without enough hours of this type of restorative sleep, we won’t function, work, learn, create, and communicate at an effective level.”

For more information, please contact the Sealy press office team, phone: 0113 430 4160 or email: sealy@prohibitionpr.co.uk

The full Sealy World Sleep Census can be found online at www.sleep-census.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hannah Palmer .