A recent study has revealed some interesting facts about sleeping habits around the world, and I’ve enjoyed seeing how my sleep habits stack up.
Our habits and the way we sleep has a lot to do with our culture, and while it seems that we’re all getting less sleep than our great and great-great grandparents, some countries are doing better when it comes to their snoozing than others.
Do you nap? If you’re anything like me, you try to nap and end up lying on your bed stressing yourself out with the futility of lying down and not sleeping. I’ve begun to think that some people are better sleepers than others, and while some of my friends have the “napping gene” I’m not one of them.
A study by NASA recently revealed how important naps are, and I’m hoping it’s a skill you can master since the study found those who nap for two hours or longer each day have improved memory and concentration compared to those of us who power through the day.
51% of those surveyed are getting less sleep than they need to function best, and only 7% of people believe they’re getting enough snooze time. The study also revealed a few interesting facts, such as 43% of respondents in the UK like to have a hot drink before bed, and 30% of Brits sleep naked.
In many African and Mediterranean countries, napping is just part of everyday life, and people nap to avoid the hottest part of the day, eating later and going to bed later at night.
Germans get an average of 7 hours of sleep a night, and on days when they’re not working they get 8 hours. While they need 7 and a half hours to perform at their best, they’re not doing too badly compared to many other countries.
The Japanese only get around 6 hours and 22 minutes of sleep on days they’re working, but 7 hours and 12 minutes if they’re not. But if they live in Tokyo they’re not doing well, since they only get an average of 5 hours and 46 minutes per night- something which makes me feel tired just thinking about it.
Mexicans get around 7 hours and 6 minutes of Z’s on work nights, unless they live in Mexico City, with these people getting around 6 and a half hours each night. Mexicans actually need around 8 hours and 15 minutes of sleep each night in order to feel alive the next day.
Unsurprisingly, Americans aren’t doing well when it comes to their dream time. Most people only get 6 hours and 31 minutes on work-nights, and 7 hours and 22 minutes on non-work nights. This is a short-fall of approximately 42 minutes, meaning only 4% of people believe they’re getting the sleep they need in order to function well.
If you find yourself tossing and turning every night, the problem could be your mattress. Luckily you can now buy mattresses online, so be sure to check how old your current mattress is so you can get a better nights sleep.
To know more about the sleeping habits around the world, look at the interesting infograph below:
