COVID-19 pandemic taking a toll on people’s sleep: survey

Virginia Beach, VA — About 3 out of 5 U.S. adults say they’re experiencing the worst sleep of their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, results of a recent survey show.

Commissioned by mattress manufacturer Leesa Sleep, marketing research company OnePoll asked 2,000 U.S. adults about the impact the pandemic is having on their sleep schedule and routine. More than two-thirds (68%) said their sleep habits have become increasingly inconsistent, while 63% think their sleep schedules might be permanently disrupted.

Other results:

• 44% of the respondents are staying up later at night because they don’t have to commute to work, and almost half get out of bed only 10 minutes before their remote workday starts.
• Among those who work from their bed, nearly 70% have a hard time focusing.
• Respondents working from home average two naps a week during their workdays.

The most common activities the respondents said they do when they’re unable to fall asleep are watch TV (45%), snack (34%), meditate (33%) and scroll through social media on their phones (30%).

The National Sleep Foundation recommends working-age adults get seven to nine hours of sleep a night, while older adults should get seven to eight hours. Tips to improve your sleep include using an app or wearable device that tracks your sleep. Then, stick to a sleep schedule – even on weekends – and practice a relaxing bedtime ritual.