How do your sleeping habits stack up to those around the world?

Many people may assume that sleeping habits are similar around the world. However cultural, social, and technological differences have resulted in many diverse sleeping rituals. People also sleep far less now than we did a few hundred years ago, with far fewer naps.

Many cultures have very different sleeping patterns compared to people living in the west. We should really be having far more naps, as studies by NASA showed that people who nap for longer than two hours have improved memory and concentration. In many African and Mediterranean countries people will have a siesta in the afternoon and go to sleep a little later at night.

In Japan people are encouraged to nap while they’re at work as it shows that they’re working very hard. In fact the Japanese are getting an average of 6 hours and 22 minutes of sleep during work nights, and 7 hours and 12 minutes on nights when they don’t have work. They actually need an average of 6 hours and 58 minutes in order to function at their best, which means that most Japanese people are short 36 minutes per night. However people living in Tokyo have it the worst, only receiving and average of 5 hours and 46 minutes per night.

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The Germans have it better, with an average sleep time of 7 hours and 1 minute on work

nights, and 8 hours on non-work nights. They need more sleep to function at their best than the Japanese however, with 7 hours and 31 minutes being ideal. This means the Germans are 30 minutes short of sleep each work night.

In the UK 51% of people are getting less sleep than they need on work nights and only 7% report that they’re getting enough sleep. Interestingly, 30% of people report sleeping naked, and 43% of people like to drink a cup of something hot before they go to bed.

Canadians are doing well, with an average sleep time of 7 hours and 3 minutes needed on work nights, with just 19 minutes more needed in order for them to function best. Unfortunately, 53% of people are getting less sleep than they need on work nights, which isn’t good news if they’re hoping to be operating at their best at work.

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In Mexico people are getting an average of 7 hours and 6 minutes of sleep on work nights, unless they live in Mexico City where they only get 6 hours and 32 minutes. However Mexicans need far more sleep than this, with 8 hours and 15 minutes needed in order to function at their best, giving them a shortfall of 1 hour and nine minutes per hour.

In the USA people get an average sleep of 6 hours and 31 minutes on work nights, and 7 hours and 22 minutes if they don’t have work the next day. They need an extra 42 minutes in order for an optimum nights sleep, and only 4% of people report that they’re getting enough sleep.

What people must know is that you need to check your mattress as well if you want to sleep better. If you need to change it for better sleep (no matter how long or short it would be) you can find lots of Mattress Online.

For more information about sleep habits around the world, check out the interesting infographic below.

Sleeping Habits Around The World OUTREACH

 

 

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