Did you know that Friday was World Sleep Day? Sealy NZ has once again investigated how New Zealanders (Kiwis) are sleeping. Recent research shows that 90% of Kiwis believe that better sleep would improve their personal lives.
Sealy’s Global Sleep Survey, which studies the sleep habits of over 20,000 people worldwide, was conducted in New Zealand with the help of Sleep Expert Dr. Kimberly Falconer. The aim was to better understand Kiwi sleep habits and find ways to improve sleep quality.
The study found that it’s important to focus on ‘sleep efficiency’ rather than ‘sleep duration’. Although more than half (55%) of Kiwis get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep a night, a shocking 60% wake up feeling tired at least five days a week. Alarmingly, one in 10 Kiwis never wake up feeling refreshed. This number increases to one in four for those who work changing shifts.
Kiwis’ sleep habits seem to be affecting their sleep quality more than some of their global counterparts. Of all the countries surveyed, New Zealanders were the highest consumers of caffeinated drinks, with 93% of us drinking at least one caffeinated drink daily. One in nine even consume their caffeinated drink just before going to bed.
Device use before bed was also higher in New Zealand than the global average (77%), with 83% of Kiwis watching TV or using an electronic device for entertainment before going to sleep. Only Malaysia had a higher percentage. Kiwis were also more likely than Australians to use a device for social media or messaging before bed.
Interestingly, the more often someone sleeps near their phone, the less likely they are to wake up feeling refreshed. This is concerning, as 65% of New Zealanders keep their mobile phones close to their bed while they sleep. This number jumps to 87% for those under 25.
The theme for World Sleep Day 2024 is “Sleep Equity for Global Health”. Unfortunately, women seem to be at a disadvantage. They are 58% more likely to have trouble falling and staying asleep. The research also showed that women are more likely than men to have their lives affected by a lack of sleep.
On a lighter note, despite Australia’s typically warmer weather, New Zealanders were more likely to sleep nude. A quarter of Kiwi men reported sleeping nude, compared to 12% of Kiwi women.
