Scores of people struggle to fall asleep and get a restful night — so much so that new research reveals Britain is facing a national sleep crisis.
Fresh data from soundcore reveals that 87 per cent of adults confess they find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. On average, UK adults manage just 6.5 hours of sleep a night – 1.5 hours less than the NHS-recommended 8 hours.
Over a week, this amounts to a deficit of over 10 hours – equivalent to losing an entire night’s sleep every single week. For most people, sleep is a priority: nine out of ten (90%) consider it crucial to their wellbeing, yet one in three (34%) are unhappy with the quality of their rest.
The average Brit takes 30 minutes to drift off, with stress (49%) and screen time (27%) being the main reasons among those who struggle.
Poor sleep is having a serious impact, with nearly six out of ten Brits (57%) saying it affects their energy and motivation. Over half (55%) report effects on their mental health and mood, while more than a third (36%) notice impacts on their physical health.
More than a quarter (27%) see drops in productivity at work, and one in six (16%) say their relationships are suffering.
Young adults are among the most sleep deprived, with 95% of 16 to 24 year olds surveyed struggling, while parents of children aged 6-8 surveyed report similarly poor sleep (92%).
Stress, snoring, and sleepless nights
Noise is a significant issue, with 77% of those who have difficulty falling asleep being disturbed by disruptive sounds.
Snoring tops the list of sounds that prevent respondents from sleeping, with over a quarter (26%) stating that a snoring partner is the most common noise that keeps them awake. One in five (20%) also point to snoring partners as a primary reason they struggle to fall asleep initially.
While 83% of individuals have attempted methods to enhance their sleep – ranging from music and podcasts to mindfulness apps – one in four (26%) participants state that the techniques they’ve tried have been unsuccessful, emphasising the extent of the sleep crisis and the pressing need for effective remedies.
A staggering 92% of Britons regard sleep as important, but one in three (34%) are unhappy with their sleep. Noise, from traffic to neighbours to snoring partners, keeps 77% awake.
Despite 83% having tried ways to improve their sleep, nearly one in four (23%) say nothing they’ve attempted has worked.
Poor sleep affects every aspect of life: 57% report low energy and motivation, 55% say it impacts their mood and mental health, and 36% notice effects on physical health. The majority of Brits – approximately 6 in 10 – sleep on their side, making comfort an essential part of healthy rest.
Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity, says: “These findings highlight the scale of Britain’s sleep crisis. Missing out on recommended rest doesn’t just leave people feeling tired – it affects mental health, productivity, relationships and physical wellbeing.
“Stress and screens are two of the biggest culprits, but partner disturbance – most commonly from snoring – comes close. Snoring is more than just an annoyance: it’s one of the leading reasons couples sleep apart and it can strain relationships as much as it impacts sleep quality.
“For the partner on the receiving end, interrupted rest can quickly add up to daytime fatigue, irritability and even resentment. For the snorer themselves, persistent snoring may indicate an underlying health issue such as sleep apnoea, so is worth getting checked out by a GP.”
Not everyone has the luxury of sleeping in a separate bedroom, so in those circumstances discovering methods to minimise or eliminate the sound of grunts and snores becomes essential.
Regarding achieving a superior night’s slumber, there are straightforward measures everyone can implement to promote better rest, such as establishing a sleep-conducive bedroom environment (cool, quiet and dark), limiting screen exposure before bedtime, maintaining a regular sleep pattern and developing a soothing bedtime ritual.
To assist in addressing common sleep disruptions, soundcore, Anker Innovations’ audio brand, has unveiled the soundcore Sleep A30, the world’s first sleeping earbuds with Smart Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and real-time Adaptive Snore Masking technology. Its standout features include smart ANC that blocks up to 30dB of noise, including snoring, traffic and other low-frequency sounds.
The device also boasts automatic sleep monitoring and sleep position tracking among other handy features. The earbuds are retailing for £199.99 and can be purchased from soundcore and Amazon.