We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Lolostock
SPONSORED

Fighting a yawn or feeling refreshed? Rate your sleep here

See how you compare to other readers in The Health Check with Irish Life Health.

HOW MANY TIMES did you hit snooze on your alarm this morning? The fine art of sleeping well isn’t something that all of us can easily master. So much so that the sleep industry is now estimated to be worth up to $40 billion (€35 billion).

Not getting enough sleep has such an impact on our lives, it’s even been found to trigger loneliness and social rejection. But it’s not a case of ‘the more the better’ either – another recent study linked too much sleep to increased risk of mortality from heart disease. So it’s important that we understand our own sleep habits. 

Last month, we launched The Health Check with Irish Life Health to get a sense of how you felt about both your fitness and your diet. And this week, we want to hear about how you’ve been sleeping.

So, do you tend to wake up groggy or refreshed in the morning? Is your phone a constant bedside fixture? How do you sleep after a few drinks? And, what do you make of sleep-monitoring apps?

Tell us by giving us your rating on the questions below…

TELL US

How satisfied are you with your sleep, 10 being completely satisfied?

6

ALARM BELLS

When you wake up in the morning, how often do you tend to feel tired, 10 being 100% of the time?

6

FEELING WEARY

When it comes to your mental health, how closely connected do you feel your sleep is to your mood, 10 being completely connected?

 

6

If you’re a slave to your alarm during the week, it can be tempting to try to use the weekend to catch up on sleep. But the research says that irregular sleepers are more likely to be overweight, have higher blood sugar, have a higher risk of heart attack and report depression and stress. So, how regular is yours?

ALL HOURS

The National Sleep Foundation recommends between 7 and 9 hours sleep per night for adults. How often do you achieve this, 10 being 100% of the time?

6

FORCE OF HABIT

Advice from Harvard to improve sleep includes keeping the same wake-up time all week and avoiding electronics two hours before bed. How conscious are you about your sleeping habits, 10 being very conscious?

6

SLEEPING ALONE

 

A study during the summer found that sleep-deprived people are more likely to feel lonely and avoid contact with people. How much does a lack of sleep impact on your desire to socialise?

6

ALCOHOL

Speaking of socialising, alcohol can result in a much lower quality of sleep and less REM (deep) sleep. How strongly would you say alcohol use affects your sleep, 10 being very strongly?

6

The sleep industry has been hard at work creating products that will help us get shut-eye. CEO of smart bedroom technology company Sleepace estimated that the number of people using sleep technology will have doubled by the end of 2018. So, how does technology fit into your sleep? Is it a hindrance or a help? Tell us by rating below.

SCREEN TIME

The idea of sleep hygiene (habits that promote good sleep, especially creating a sleep-friendly bedroom) has gained a lot of attention lately. How likely would you be to use a screen (phone/laptop/TV) in bed, 10 being very likely?

6

LIGHT UP

Some studies suggest that over half of Irish smartphone users check their device in the middle of the night. How likely are you to check your phone if you wake up during the night, 10 being very likely?

6

ON SNOOZE

How likely would you be to use sleep monitoring apps to track your sleep, 10 being extremely likely?

6

Read more from The Health Check:
Five-a-day or five takeaways a week? Rate your diet here

Smashing your PB or just catching your breath? Rate your fitness here

Over the next few months as part of The Health Check, we’ll be capturing a snapshot of our health as a nation with Irish Life Health. We’ll be compiling anonymous, real-time ratings and talking to experts about the results and what they mean for our health. We know Irish Life. We are Irish Life Health.

Your Voice
Readers Comments
7
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel