Sleepless nights: 30 effects of a bad night’s sleep

A poor night's sleep goes well beyond craving excess caffeine the next day. Research commissioned by eve, ahead of the launch of the five-day SleepSuite event, revealed that sleepless nights are having some pretty amusing and disastrous knock-on effects. From snoring to anxiety, the study also unearthed the reasons why so many of the population are experiencing a dark circle-inducing 90 'bad sleeps' each year.

Rise and (don't) shine

Does a lack of sleep turn you into an emotional wreck? Or make you more likely to reach for the chocolate croissant to go with your coffee? You're not alone. The poll of 2,000 UK adults discovered unhealthy food choices, rows with partners, heightened emotional feelings, clumsiness and oversleeping are all more likely to happen after a bad night's sleep.

A sleepless night can also have repercussions at work, according to the study. Researchers found our attention span is affected and, as a direct result, 171 questionable decisions or lapses of judgement are made over the course of a typical 12-month period.

The research found that a lack of humour, grumpiness, and an increased likelihood to snap at your children were also common consequences.

And the effects aren't just skin deep. Two thirds of those asked believe poor sleep is having a significant impact on their lives - with just under half suggesting it has damaged their health in some way. People also reported driving more carelessly after a lack of sleep.

Just under half of those questioned say a rubbish sleep affects their relationship, while 29% say it has impacted their relationship with their children.

Why are we struggling to sleep?

The research found the main causes of a bad night's sleep are stress, being too hot and needing to go to the toilet in middle of the night. Worrying about work, snoring partners and outside noise are also common reasons for a disappointing kip.

For 44%, the anxiety they might have about bad sleep is in itself a cause of poor slumber. On average, those polled sleep for six hours and 34 minutes per night - typically waking up twice.

While these findings might seem a tad depressing, there is a glimmer of hope. Half of the population admit they could do more to ensure they sleep better than they currently do; and 90% think a good night's sleep has significant health benefits. While, seven in 10 consider sleep to be a priority for them over the next 12 months.

Christine Hansen, holistic sleep expert and spokeswoman for eve Sleep, explained: 'The good news is, 2018 is the year when sleep is finally on the agenda. This research shows that 75% of people are more aware of the importance of sleep, compared to ten years ago, which is hugely positive. While an impressive 90% believe a good night's sleep has significant health benefits. Although we understand how important sleep is for us and our health, there is still a lot we can all do to improve our night time routines.'

Jas Bagniewski, co founder and CEO of eve Sleep added: 'We're on a mission to help people sleep better by designing simple, beautiful and accessible products. At the same time, we acknowledge that improving a person's sleep isn't always possible by simply buying a mattress, pillow or upgrading your bedding. It helps, but of course there is a lot more to it - and that's also important to us.'

For further information about The Sleep Suite, which is being held in the Town Hall Hotel & Apartments in Bethnal Green, London - in the De Montfort Suite from 29th January until 2nd February, visit:www.evemattress.co.uk/thesleepsuite

TOP 30: KNOCK-ON EFFECTS OF BAD SLEEP

1. Feeling stressed
2. More likely to overreact to things
3. Reduced sense of humour
4. Having a short attention span/finding it hard to concentrate
5. Feeling more emotional
6. Being unproductive at work
7. Being more clumsy
8. Eating unhealthy food
9. Spending day in a bit of a haze
10. Having bags under my eyes
11. Arguing with my partner
12. Oversleeping
13. Feeling rushed
14. Being snappy with the kids
15. Being late
16. Reduced empathy/find it hard to care about things
17. Forgetting things at work
18. Lacking patience when driving
19. Making mistakes at work
20. Have less patience with shop assistants
21. Having less patience with clients/customers
22. Being less presentable
23. Being ruder
24. Missing appointments
25. Driving less safely
26. Missing deadlines
27. Arguing with work colleagues
28. Pulling a sickie
29. Dropping my kids off to school late
30. Forgetting to make the kids' pack lunch