Paid Content

Britain Gets Four Billion Hours Less Sleep Than 10 Years Ago - Competitive Tiredness Is Partly To Blame

Do You Play The 'Who's More Tired' Game?

If you got six hours of sleep last night you're bound to have a colleague who "only got five."

As a nation we're sleeping significantly less every night than we were 10 years ago and our culture of "competitive commitment" at work could be to blame.

New research has revealed that the population sleeps four billion hours less annually than we did in 2004, meaning Brits are now losing out on a staggering 17 and a half nights of sleep more per person, per year.

It appears we now take pride in how little sleep we get, using it as a badge of honour rather than a cause for concern.

Over a third (36%) of people surveyed admit to competing with colleagues about lack of sleep with women being the more competitive sex.

Open Image Modal

In the survey, conducted by Premier Inn, 25-34 year olds were found to be the most guilty of engaging in "competitive tiredness."

More than half of people in this age group (57%) admit to competing with colleagues about how little sleep they achieve a night.

A further 25% of 25-34 year olds exaggerate about how early they rise to impress their boss. Journalists, politicians and scientists are the professions where competitive tiredness is most rife.

The research suggests our widespread lack of sleep may also be caused by our increasingly strained work-life balance and the 'always on' culture caused by ubiquitous technology.

The majority of people (69%) feel they have to compromise sleep to get everything achieved in a day.

A further 83% of people wake up early to check emails and get prepared for the working day.

Earlier this year the University of Oxford's Great British Sleep Survey linked sleep deprivation to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, obesity, anxiety and depression.

The Huffington Post's founder Arianna Huffington says the best way to succeed in business is to "sleep your way to the top...literally."

To be your best self, you need to be rested. It's time we stopped showing off about how little sleep we're getting and started being proud of our seven hours plus of shut-eye.

Foods That Help You Sleep
Cherries(01 of10)
Open Image Modal
Cherries naturally boost levels of melatonin (a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate the sleep cycle), so try ditching your sleeping pills for a glass of tart cherry juice before hitting the hay. (credit:Brian Macdonald via Getty Images)
Dark Chocolate(02 of10)
Open Image Modal
Alongside its other health benefits, dark chocolate can help you to get a good night’s sleep too. Nutritionist Cynthia Pasquella says that it contains serotonin, which relaxes your body and mind. (credit:Jacek Nowak via Getty Images)
Almonds(03 of10)
Open Image Modal
Just a handful of almonds will help you to doze off in the evening. "Almonds are a winner,” says Jacob Teitelbaum, author of the bestselling book From Fatigued to Fantastic! “They contain magnesium, which promotes both sleep and muscle relaxation," he says. (credit:Daniel Grill via Getty Images)
Camomile Tea(04 of10)
Open Image Modal
Swap your evening caffeine fix for a cup of camomile tea. Drinking this herbal tea will help you get your snooze on faster, as it lacks the caffeine most teas have and is associated with an increase of glycine, a chemical that relaxes nerves and muscles. (credit:Maximilian Stock Ltd. via Getty Images)
Kale(05 of10)
Open Image Modal
Kale is not only good for your health and diet, but will help you get your beauty sleep too. Loaded with calcium, green leafy vegetables help the brain use tryptophan to manufacture melatonin and serotonin - while keeping your diet in check too. (credit:jrwasserman via Getty Images)
Honey(06 of10)
Open Image Modal
Try adding honey to your tea before bed time. It contains natural sugar that slightly raises insulin levels and allows tryptophan (an amino-acid that makes us sleepy) to enter the brain more easily. (credit:rvbox via Getty Images)
Walnuts(07 of10)
Open Image Modal
Walnuts are a good source of tryptophan, a sleep-enhancing amino acid that helps make serotonin and melatonin, the “body clock” hormone that sets your sleep-wake cycles, according to the NHS. (credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Bananas(08 of10)
Open Image Modal
Bananas contain the sleep-inducing amino acid tryptophan, which promotes relaxation. Saundra Dalton-Smith, author of Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves says: “Bananas are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium, which help to relax overstressed muscles." (credit:James Ross via Getty Images)
Oily fish(09 of10)
Open Image Modal
Most oily fish (especially tuna and salmon) boast vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin, so a nice tuna salad or salmon dish could just make you drift off more easily. (credit:Iain Bagwell via Getty Images)
Jasmine Rice(10 of10)
Open Image Modal
Jasmine rice has a high glycemic index, so the body digests it as a slow speed, releasing glucose gradually into the bloodstream. It also boosts the production of tryptophan and serotonin so eating it will significantly reduce the time it takes you to fall asleep. (credit:MIB Pictures via Getty Images)