Latest news with #SleepGeek
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Almost ALL Brits suffer Bank Holiday burnout – and finish the weekend more tired than they started, survey reveals
NEARLY nine in 10 Brits have suffered ' bank holiday burnout' – and are more exhausted after a busy long weekend than they were before it started. A poll of 2,000 adults found 42 per cent feel pressure to make the most of the extra day off, losing an average of four hours of sleep compared to normal weekends. 3 And almost one in six (16 per cent) try to fit in as many activities as possible into one long weekend. As a result, 84 per cent have found themselves engaged in a social plan they can't get out of, wishing they'd made time to actually relax instead. Many try to make the most of their time by cramming in productive activities like gardening (33 per cent), cleaning and tidying (29 per cent), and finally tackling long-postponed DIY projects (26 per cent). The research, commissioned by Premier Inn, has found that to fit in their bank holiday plans, 94 per cent will sacrifice sleep by either going to bed later or getting up earlier – or both. But according to sleep experts, this creates "social jetlag", which mimics the symptoms of traditional jetlag. With two thirds of Brits - and almost nine in 10 Gen Z respondents - admitting they have experienced this phenomenon after a bank holiday. Sleep expert for the hotel brand, James Wilson - also known as The Sleep Geek, said: 'We're all guilty of trying to pack too much into a long weekend. 'We tend to stay up later, wake up later, catch up on household chores, eat at odd times, and maybe drink a bit more than usual – all this throws your body clock off track, and you could end up with 'social jetlag'.' The study found that when it comes to what they would prefer to do with their bank holidays, more time outdoors (23 per cent), lounging in the sun (21 per cent), and simply doing nothing (22 per cent) were among the most popular. However, fewer people take the opportunity to venture further afield for some relaxation – only 17 per cent spend a day at the beach, and just 16 per cent go on spontaneous getaways. Instead of relaxing, six in 10 admit to overloading their schedules – agreeing to plans they didn't really want to make (25 per cent), waking up early despite feeling exhausted (25 per cent), or travelling back late and heading straight into work the next day (16 per cent). As a result, 21 per cent of workers feel they need an extra day off to recover, citing going back to work again (15 per cent), not sleeping properly (16 per cent) and trying to please everyone (15 per cent) as the most exhausting parts of the long weekend. And on returning to a four-day working week, 14 per cent are concerned about falling behind on emails, 13 per cent feel worried about their to-do list, and 12 per cent feel stressed about cramming five days of work into four, according to the survey conducted by OnePoll. It also emerged factors which contribute to more restful sleep include fresh sea air (30 per cent), a more comfortable bed (30 per cent) and a change of scenery (11 per cent). A spokesperson for Premier Inn said: 'We want to put the 'holiday' back into 'Bank Holiday'. 'We know how easily those extra Bank Holiday days can fill up with life admin like catching up on emails, running errands and cleaning the house, but it's important to remember that it's supposed to be a holiday. 'Our sleep expert and research highlight the value of taking a proper, well-earned break – whether it's a mini-break to the coast, making time for a spontaneous getaway or just having a change of scenery. 'A change can be as restorative as rest and making time to pause the life admin and truly unwind will leave us feeling refreshed, recharged, and ready for the days ahead.' TOP TIPS FROM SLEEP EXPERT TO RECOVER FROM 'SOCIAL JET LAG' 1. Cut yourself some slack If your sleep isn't great on Monday night, don't feel guilty about it. Having fun is important for your mental health, and by simply accepting that Tuesday might be a bit tougher, you'll probably sleep better just by not stressing about it. 2. Soak up the sunshine Getting some natural light early in the day is like a reset button for your body clock. Even 15-20 minutes during the day can make a huge difference. Do it as early as possible – especially on Tuesday – and keep it going all week. 3. Eat like your rhythm depends on it Your circadian rhythm isn't just driven by light – it's also influenced by when you eat. Try to eat your meals at regular times from Tuesday onwards, and avoid heavy meals less than three hours before bedtime. 4. Move your body, but don't overdo it Exercise is brilliant for sleep. but timing matters. If you're sleep-deprived and usually exercise early, maybe skip that 6am HIIT class on Tuesday. Moving your body is great, but swap high intensity workouts for something gentler like a walk until you're back in sync. 5. Put the sleep tracker down Sleep trackers can be insightful, but if you already know sleep might not be brilliant, staring at a number telling you what you already feel isn't going to help. In fact, obsessing over your sleep (known as orthosomnia) can make it worse – so take the data with a pinch of salt until things are back to normal. 3 3
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
'Bank holiday burnout' as Brits lose four hours of sleep over long weekend
A poll of 2,000 adults found 42% feel pressure to make the most of the extra day off, losing an average of four hours of sleep compared to normal weekends A staggering 9 out of 10 Brits have experienced exhaustion after a bank holiday weekend, with many people ending up more drained than when the break began. According to a survey of 2,000 adults, 42% feel compelled to make the most of the extra day off, leading to an average of 4 hours' sleep loss compared to a regular weekend. Moreover, almost 1 in 6 individuals (16%) attempt to cram as many activities as possible into the long weekend, resulting in 84% committing to social plans they can't get out of, wishing they'd made time for genuine relaxation instead. Many try to maximise their time by squeezing in productive activities such as gardening (33%), cleaning and tidying (29%), and tackling overdue DIY projects (26%). Research conducted by Premier Inn found that 94% of respondents compromise on sleep by either staying up late or rising early, or both, to fit in their bank holiday plans. However, sleep experts warn that this creates "social jetlag", which mimics the symptoms of traditional jetlag. Approximately two-thirds of Brits - and almost 9 out of 10 Gen Z respondents - admit to having experienced this phenomenon after a bank holiday. James Wilson, sleep expert for the hotel brand, also known as The Sleep Geek, stated: "We're all guilty of trying to pack too much into a long weekend. "We tend to stay up later, wake up later, catch up on household chores, eat at odd times, and maybe drink a bit more than usual – all this throws your body clock off track, and you could end up with 'social jetlag'." The research indicated that for bank holidays, folks favoured spending more time outdoors (23%), soaking up the sun (21%), or simply lounging about doing nothing (22%). However, fewer individuals seize the chance to hit the beach for some R&R – only 17% plan a day by the seaside, and a mere 16% embark on impulsive trips. Instead of unwinding, 60% confess to packing their itineraries too full – agreeing to engagements they aren't keen on (25%), rising early despite fatigue (25%), or travelling back late and ploughing straight into work the next morning (16%). As such, 21% of employees feel they require an additional day off post-holiday, blaming the return to work (15%), inadequate sleep (16%) and the effort to appease everyone (15%) as the key reasons for their bank holiday burnout. Moreover, when facing a compressed four-day working week, 14% worry about slipping behind on emails, 13% are anxious about tackling their to-do lists, and 12% are stressed over squeezing five days' workload into four, as revealed by the poll from OnePoll. Other factors that contribute to restful sleep, according to the survey, include breathing in fresh sea air (30%), a more comfortable bed (30%), and a change of scenery (11%). A spokesperson from Premier Inn stated: "We want to put the 'holiday' back into 'Bank Holiday'. We know how easily those extra Bank Holiday days can fill up with life admin like catching up on emails, running errands and cleaning the house, but it's essential to remember that it's supposed to be a holiday. "Our sleep expert and research highlight the value of taking a proper, well-earned break – whether it's a mini-break to the coast, making time for a spontaneous getaway or just having a change of scenery. "A change can be as restorative as rest and making time to pause the life admin and truly unwind will leave us feeling refreshed, recharged, and ready for the days ahead." TOP TIPS FROM SLEEP EXPERT TO RECOVER FROM 'SOCIAL JET LAG' 1. Give yourself a break If your sleep isn't great on Monday night, don't feel guilty about it. Having fun is vital for your mental health, and by simply accepting that Tuesday might be a bit tougher, you'll probably sleep better just by not stressing about it. 2. Get some sunshine Exposure to natural light early in the day acts as a reset button for your body clock. Even 15-20 minutes during the day can make a significant difference. Do it as early as possible – especially on Tuesday – and keep it going all week. 3. Eat like your rhythm depends on it Your circadian rhythm, or internal body clock, isn't solely dictated by light exposure – it's also affected by your eating patterns. Aim to consume your meals at consistent times from Tuesday onwards, and steer clear of heavy meals within three hours of hitting the hay. 4. Get moving, but don't push too hard Physical activity is a boon for sleep, but timing is key. If you're feeling the effects of sleep deprivation and typically exercise in the early morning, perhaps give that 6am HIIT class a miss on Tuesday. Engaging in physical activity is beneficial, but consider swapping strenuous workouts for gentler options like a leisurely walk until your sleep pattern normalises. 5. Lay off the sleep tracker While sleep trackers can provide valuable insights, obsessing over your sleep data (a condition known as orthosomnia) can actually exacerbate sleep issues. If you're already aware that your sleep quality might be subpar, fixating on a number that merely confirms your suspicions won't do you any favours. So, take the data with a grain of salt until your sleep schedule returns to its usual rhythm.
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Sleep expert issues warning over common heatwave pyjama error
Many a love song has been dedicated to the long, hot nights of summer, but as bad sleepers will undoubtedly know, the reality can be less than dreamy. Indeed, as welcome as a blast of sunshine is in the UK, we Brits all too often find ourselves struggling when the warmer weather threatens our precious sleep. With a heatwave on the way across parts of the country, many will already be bracing themselves for hours of sticky, sweaty tossing and turning, likely followed by a grouchy start to the day. With this in mind, it may be a good idea to look up a few tips and tricks to keep cool between the covers before tucking yourself in, ensuring you get enough rest to make the most of the balmy days ahead. However, as warned by James Wilson, best known as The Sleep Geek, some popular heatwave 'hacks' could well be making you even hotter... Some of the tricks people have shared include slipping on frozen bedsheets and pyjamas or even wearing wet socks to bed, but James said they will only "add moisture" to your environment and heat it up. Speaking previously with the Mirror, Wilson said: "When hot weather comes around, there are some tips given out that may sound like they would work when actually they really, really don't. An example of this may be putting your bedding/pyjamas in the fridge or freezer, or wearing wet socks to bed, but they both have the same problem. "These approaches will add more moisture to your sleep environment, and that moisture will heat up during the night. This means that although it may cool you down as you go to bed during the night, this moisture will heat up and is likely to wake you as you come out of your sleep cycle. "An alternative that works would be to have either a lukewarm bath or shower, or put lukewarm water in a hot water bottle and rest the soles of your feet on it." Wilson continued: "This helps raise your core temperature slightly, which will then lead to a drop in core temperature. "A drop in core temperature is an important part of the process of your body falling asleep, and this approach is basically tricking your body into thinking it is cooler than it is. The reason we use lukewarm water rather than ice cold is that ice cold will shock your body, making it feel more active and more than likely prolong the process of getting sleep." Offering a few more effective tips of his own, Wilson advises maintaining good airflow throughout your home by opening windows on both sides to allow air to pass through. He also suggested keeping blinds and curtains closed in rooms exposed to direct sunlight, with the shade helping to keep things cool. If you have a fan, you could always position a bowl of chilled water in front of it to cool the air in your bedroom. Wilson continued, "If you are using a cotton sheet, ensure it has as low a thread count as possible, as the higher the thread count, the less breathable it is. "Cotton is okay in hot weather, although it isn't that great at wicking the moisture away; I would suggest using bamboo. It has longer fibres so breathes better and doesn't lint, so people with skin conditions are not as aggravated – it is also lighter on the body."
