Sleep: How Much Of Our Day Does It Consume?

On average, a person will spend about a third of their life asleep. This equates to around 26 years, or 9,496 days, or 227,916 hours. Surprisingly, we also spend seven years trying to fall asleep, which is a total of 33 years or 12,053 days!

The average person spends about 26 years sleeping

On average, a person will spend about 26 years of their life sleeping. This is the equivalent of 9,496 days or 227,916 hours. In other words, we spend about a third of our lives asleep.

This figure does not include the time spent trying to fall asleep. In total, we spend seven years, or 33 years, trying to get to sleep. This amounts to 12,053 days.

The amount of sleep we need changes as we age. For example, newborns spend more than half of their day sleeping, while teens and adults require seven to nine hours of sleep per night.

Sleep plays a crucial role in our mental and physical well-being, including immunity and weight regulation. It is essential for our overall health and should not be neglected.

While it may be tempting to reduce sleep to create more time for other activities, this is not advisable for most people. Only a small percentage of the population (1-3%) are short sleepers who can function well with less sleep. For everyone else, insufficient sleep can have negative consequences for our health.

We spend about one-third of our life either sleeping or trying to sleep

On average, a person will spend about a third of their life sleeping. This equates to around 26 years, or 9,496 days, or 227,916 hours. Surprisingly, we also spend seven years trying to fall asleep—a total of 33 years or 12,053 days!

Sleep is essential for our mental and physical well-being, including immunity and weight regulation. Not getting enough sleep can negatively impact our health. While short sleepers—only 1-3% of the population—can function well on less sleep, most people need around seven or more hours of sleep per night.

The amount of sleep we get is also linked to our ability to exercise. Poor sleep can make it difficult to exercise to our full potential, while just 10 minutes of regular exercise can significantly improve sleep quality. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize both sleep and exercise for our overall health and well-being.

Additionally, sleep plays a vital role in our daily routines and activities. For example, getting enough sleep can improve our focus at work and enhance our performance in other areas of our lives.

Sleep is linked to physical and mental well-being

Sleep is essential for our physical and mental well-being. On average, a person spends about 26 years of their life sleeping, which is equivalent to one-third of their entire life.

Sleep has a direct impact on our physical health. For instance, it boosts our immunity and helps with weight regulation. A good night's rest also improves our exercise performance. Just 10 minutes of regular exercise can significantly enhance sleep quality. Therefore, adequate sleep and regular exercise are crucial for maintaining optimal health.

Sleep also plays a vital role in our mental health. It is linked to improved concentration and focus. For instance, children with sleep-related disorders often experience lowered immunity, increased behavioural problems, and a lack of concentration. Additionally, insufficient sleep can lead to insomnia, which may be a risk factor for sexual dysfunction and erectile dysfunction. About 40% of people with insomnia may have a diagnosable mental health condition.

Furthermore, sleep helps regulate our emotions. For example, individuals with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) who practice light therapy during winter are 36% less likely to experience depressive episodes. Sleep can also help manage stress and anxiety, which are often the top reasons why people have trouble falling asleep.

In summary, sleep is essential for maintaining physical and mental well-being. It boosts our immunity, aids in weight regulation, improves exercise performance, enhances concentration, and helps regulate our emotions. Getting a good night's sleep can improve our overall health and quality of life.

Sleep-deprivation has a negative economic impact

Sleep deprivation has a negative economic impact on society, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, employers, and the wider community. Here are some key points to illustrate this:

Lost Productivity and Labour Costs

Sleep deprivation leads to a decrease in productivity and an increase in labour costs. Insufficient sleep has been linked to lower workplace productivity due to absenteeism and presenteeism. Presenteeism refers to employees being physically present at work but working at a sub-optimal level due to illness or other factors. A study by Marco Hafner et al. found that workers who slept less than six hours a day reported 2.4% higher productivity loss due to absenteeism or presenteeism than those who slept between seven to nine hours. This translates into a loss of about 1.23 million working days in the US alone annually.

Healthcare Costs

The healthcare costs associated with sleep deprivation are significant. Sleep-deprived individuals have increased healthcare utilisation, with higher rates of doctor visits, hospital services, and medication use. Sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy incur direct medical costs, including expenses for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and over-the-counter drugs. These costs are not limited to the individual but also impact society as a whole.

Accidents and Safety Risks

Sleep deprivation increases the risk of accidents, posing a safety hazard to individuals and the wider community. Drowsy driving, for example, is responsible for over 6,000 fatal car crashes in the United States annually. Sleep deprivation has also been implicated in well-known disasters such as the Chernobyl nuclear explosion and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The economic cost of accidents linked to insomnia is substantial, with an estimated annual cost of $31.1 billion in the US alone.

Education and Cognitive Development

Sleep deprivation can hinder cognitive performance and academic achievement. Students who do not get enough sleep may experience difficulties with concentration, memory, and complex decision-making. This can have long-term consequences, impacting their success in school and later in the labour market. Sleep deprivation among children and adolescents may have irreversible long-term effects on their cognitive development and academic performance.

Overall Economic Impact

The economic impact of sleep deprivation is substantial, with the US losing up to $411 billion annually due to lost productivity and other factors. Other countries, including Japan, the UK, Germany, and Canada, also incur significant economic costs due to insufficient sleep. These costs are expected to rise as the average age of the population increases, leading to a higher incidence of sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders are common

Sleep disorders are incredibly common, with more than 50 million Americans suffering from chronic sleep disorders. Sleep disorders are conditions that affect sleep quality, timing, or duration and can impact a person's ability to function properly while awake.

There are over 80 different types of sleep disorders, with insomnia being the most common. Insomnia is characterised by an ongoing difficulty in falling or remaining asleep, and people with insomnia also experience daytime sleepiness. Up to two-thirds of adults experience some form of insomnia, and it is more likely to occur with older age, lower socioeconomic status, and anxiety or depression.

Other common sleep disorders include sleep apnea, a breathing disorder in which breathing stops for 10 seconds or more during sleep; restless leg syndrome, which involves an urge to move one's legs accompanied by uncomfortable sensations; hypersomnia, which involves an inability to stay awake during the day; circadian rhythm disorders, which are problems with the sleep-wake cycle; and parasomnia, which involves acting in unusual ways while falling asleep, such as walking or talking.

Sleep disorders can be caused by other conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, nerve disorders, and pain, as well as mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Ageing can also contribute to sleep problems, as people tend to get less sleep and spend less time in deep, restful sleep as they get older.

Consequences of sleep disorders and lack of sleep include fatigue, decreased energy, irritability, problems with focus and decision-making, and mood changes. Sleep problems are often linked to symptoms of depression and anxiety, and can exacerbate these conditions. Lack of sleep has also been associated with chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

It is important to note that sleep is a critical component of both physical and mental health, and most adults need about seven to nine hours of restful sleep each night.

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