Money worries and the credit crunch biting is driving a wave of sleep deprivation across the UK workforce, a report out today revealed. Twenty two million* (75%) workers admitted getting less than the prescribed eight hours of sleep each night of the working week.
Topping the professional’s sleep deprivation poll are Estate Agents, who are only getting five hours and 50 minutes sleep a night -more than two hours less than the daily recommended sleep quota. It seems the stress of a house price nose dive and slump in the market, is certainly taking its toll on these professionals.
The Travelodge study of over 4,000 British workers revealed that a two professions facing rocketing fuel prices - lorry and taxi drivers - were the next two groups missing most ‘shut eye’ sharing an average of just six hours and 16 minutes a night. Third position was claimed by another economy hit profession, bankers, who manage just six hours and 23 minutes of sleep. Builders and accountants complete the top five, with both getting six hours and 24 minutes of shut eye. The remaining top ten professions in the sleep deprivation stakes are:
- IT worker (6hrs and 30mins)
- Charity worker (6hrs and 31mins)
- Lawyer (6hrs and 32mins)
- Engineer (6hrs and 34mins)
- Call centre worker (6hrs and 34mins)
Leigh McCarron, Travelodge’s Director of sleep said; “It is no surprise that the professions in the industries worst hit by the credit crunch come top of the charts. We all know that money worries and job security are key drivers of stress which in turn, leads to significant sleep loss.”
The budget hotel chain’s study also revealed the key reasons why 40% of workers regularly experience difficulty getting to sleep:
- Worrying about the pressures of work, especially within the current financial climate
- Planning on how to make ends meet and keeping the family out of the red
- Leaving work late, resulting in eating late and going to bed late
- Having an alcoholic drink at bedtime to help them unwind
- Coming home and start working again - late into the night, in order to catch up on a heavy work load
The research also identified more than a third (38%) of the UK workforce claims they just can’t switch off from work at any time. For 23% of workers, their first thought of the day will be about their job and 32% of employees will drift off to sleep thinking of work.
Seventy eight per cent of respondents said they would love to get more sleep if they had the time and 52% of workers will take time off work or spend their weekend catching up on sleep.
Leigh McCarron concluded, “Don’t let the credit crunch keep you awake, it’s a vicious circle, although you may fret about your job and have financial worries; you cannot afford to sacrifice your sleep quota. Losing valuable hours of sleep will certainly impact upon your well being and productivity.”.
Listed below are Travelodge’s Sleep Director’s top tips to get a good night’s sleep:
- Write down everything that is worrying you before you go to bed, in order to clear your mind
- Stick to a regular bed time every night. Routine is good, it ensures your natural body clock follows a rhythm
- Avoid eating after 7pm. Your body needs a couple of hours to digest food, if you got to bed on a full stomach, your brain and body are too busy digesting the food and you will find it more difficult to fall asleep
Listed below are the top 10 professions which get the most sleep:
- Media and creative (7hrs and 12mins)
- Marketing and PR (7hrs and 7mins)
- Travel and tourism worker (7hrs and 7mins)
- Electrician (7hrs and 5mins)
- Chef (7hs and 3mins)
- Librarian (7hrs and 1min)
- Teacher (6hrs and 58mins)
- Nurse (6rs and 55mins)
- Research and development (6hrs and 54mins)
- Student (6hrs and 53mins)
