Daylight saving is coming – and with it a chance to reset your poor sleep habits. Photo: Getty
Ever feel like you just can’t get enough sleep? Don’t worry, it turns out you’re not alone.
A new survey has found sleep quality has taken a nosedive during the pandemic, with more than one in three Australians rating their sleep as poor or very poor.
But it’s always darkest before the dawn, which will soon be an hour earlier.
Sleep for Health managing director Dr Carmel Harrington said daylight saving, which starts for millions of people in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia and the ACT on October 3, could be a chance to shake bad sleeping habits.
“People normally groan at the thought of the clocks going forward and losing an hour of sleep, but you also gain an hour of daylight,” Dr Harrington said.
“We should use that extra hour to get outside, do some exercise or reconnect with friends and family to break the monotony of lockdown.
“You’ll feel more energised. It will help reduce anxiety and aid sleep.”
And many Australians could do with a reset.
A survey by sleep health company ResMed found lockdowns and coronavirus restrictions have trashed our sleep routines.
The survey found half of Australians were unmotivated or very tired in the afternoon, while a third couldn’t find the energy to exercise and a quarter felt less productive at work.
About one in three Australians said they were losing sleep over money issues, feeling isolated from friends and family, and indefinite lockdowns.
The survey also found Australians typically spent 20 minutes in bed after waking up, with one in three people reporting extending that time since lockdowns began.
“Motivation has decreased and tiredness has increased, even though we are spending more time in bed,” Dr Harrington said.
“It’s a time of uncertainty for everyone. A feeling of isolation from family and friends and concerns over employment are all ingredients for disrupting our usual sleep routines.”
Most Australians have different sleeping habits on weekends compared with weekdays, but for many, lockdowns have made days bleed into one another, meaning people go to bed later and stay in bed longer.
“Each day has started to feel like Groundhog Day,” Dr Harrington said.
“Establishing a sleep routine is vital and the clocks changing is a great time to take stock and prioritise your sleep.”