LONDON — Does a Thanksgiving food coma have you struggling to stay alert at work? You’re not alone! More than a fifth of adults have fallen asleep at their jobs. A poll of 2,000 adults in the United Kingdom found that 22 percent have drifted off while on the clock — mainly due to late nights (45%), working too hard (32%), or simply out of sheer boredom (32%).
Others admitted to taking 40 winks in nightclubs or bars (12%) and even dozing off at someone’s wedding (5%). One in 10 have nodded off on the toilet, generally citing an overindulgence in food (25%) as another reason for dozing in unusual locations.
The research, commissioned by Samsung to highlight the Sleep Animals functionality on the Galaxy Watch6, also found others have caught some shut-eye at parties, theater shows, and while riding public transportation.
“If you fall asleep during the day without intending to, that is a clear sign of not getting enough sleep at night to stay healthy,” explains clinical psychologist Dr. Julie Smith in a statement. “This research suggests we could all do with working on improving our poor habits when it comes to our bedtime routines, but to do this, we need to have a good understanding of our sleeping habits.”
The study also found that 17 percent of adults would willingly try unusual methods to try and improve the quality of their sleep. As many as 43 percent have avoided caffeine before going to bed in a bid to get better slumber, with the same percentage reading a good book before bed.
However, 57 percent claim their disturbed slumber is due to overthinking, while 49 percent say being too hot or too cold disrupts their ability to have a good night’s sleep. Another 32 percent blame working too hard as the reason for not getting their much-needed rest.
Noisy neighbors (22%), uncomfortable beds (21%), and nightmares (17%) are also to blame. Of those who toss and turn at night, 40 percent struggle to get themselves off to dreamland in the first place because of money worries. Ironically, the worry of getting in their sleep is stopping 36 percent from nodding off. As a result, one in four find they struggle to sleep so often they’ve come to dread bedtime.
According to the findings conducted by OnePoll, 53 percent feel they prioritize sleep as much as they should. It also emerged just 12 percent have used a smartwatch to monitor their sleeping patterns, but 25 percent would like to learn more about their sleeping habits.
“Through analyzing the sleep patterns of millions worldwide, we’re able to understand how technology can play a role in helping people establish healthier habits,” says Annika Bizon, from Samsung UK. “To start improving the quality of your sleep, understanding how you sleep is key.”
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72Point writer Fran Tuckey contributed to this report.
