Over half of Brits often feel tired, and three in 10 blame this on lack of sleep

31 March 2024 , 08:15

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Over half of Brits (56%) say they regularly feel tired – with the average adult uttering the phrase, “I’m tired”, as often as three times a day, research has found.

Almost a third (31%) blame their frequent fatigue on not getting enough sleep – while a quarter (24%) reckon it is because they are always on the go. Others blame the weather, or long working hours – but 42% believe they are “generally just a tired person”.

When they feel themselves getting dozy, some of the top ways they combat this include having a coffee, going for a walk, splashing their face with water – or simply giving into it, and taking a nap.

And 3.47pm was identified as the peak time for people to start feeling lethargic – with 36% admitting they often catch themselves yawning.

The survey of 2,000 adults also revealed the top 20 sleepiest cities in the UK – with Oxford topping the list. Over two-thirds of residents (67%) in the “city of dreaming spires” frequently feel fatigued – putting it ahead of Cardiff and Cambridge, where 63% and 62%, respectively, said the same.

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Plymouth and Birmingham completed the top five sleepiest cities – while Newcastle came bottom of the list, with just 48% of its residents frequently feeling fatigued.

Over half of Brits often feel tired - and more than a third frequently catch themselves yawning (Getty Images)

In response to these findings, an on-the-street test has appeared in Oxford, challenging residents on their responsiveness to see how many lights they can hit in 30 seconds – rating them from “practically health/how-stop-snoring-7-tips-5561529>snoring”, to “top snoozer”.

Silentnight was behind the sleep-o-meter test, and also commissioned the study. Its team were on hand to giveaway free mattresses to some of the sleepiest on the day, and offer advice to help them as the clocks go forward for British Summer Time.

Hannah Shore, sleep expert at Silentnight, and who studied sleep medicine at Oxford University, said: “It’s not hugely surprising to see some of the most well-known university cities in the top spots for sleepiest residents – but there are some simple steps locals can take to feel more well rested.

“Comfort and routine are key, so be sure to create a wind-down routine in the evening, and ensure your space is as restful as it can be – with comfortable bedding, dim lighting, and the right temperature.

“Just one night of bad sleep can have a big impact on our day-to-day – whether that’s slower reaction times, reduced concentration levels, or even making us a little more snappy than usual.”

It also emerged that lack of sleep seems to be a big mood trigger for 20% – and has led to more than a third (34%) forgetting what they were going to say during a conversation.

And four in 10 hit snooze on their alarms - doing so an average of three times, before finally getting up (DGL Images/Getty Images)

Furthermore, 28% are more likely to eat junk food if they are tired – and 24% admit to having previously cried without any explanation.

The OnePoll.com study also found four in 10 are alarm snoozers, with the average person hitting snooze three times before finally getting out of bed.

It takes an average of 30 minutes before those polled feel “human” again after waking up in the morning. And a hot shower, making the bed, and having a cup of tea, were voted among the “absolute musts” within the first hour of getting up, to help set them up for the day.

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Hannah Shore added: “Sleep is so important for physical recovery, but it’s also vital for our brains. Light sleep, in particular, helps our memory, learning, and with processing our emotions – but it’s often the stage we lose out on when we’re not getting enough sleep.”

As people across the UK adjust to the clocks going forward, Hannah has shared her three top tips for the sleepiest Brits:

Brush up your bedtime routine – Whether it’s taking a warm shower, reading a good book, or meditating, taking time to unwind after a busy day will make it easier for you to get to sleep. When you have a consistent routine in place, you’ll see that your sleep patterns are more stable, and you’re able to have a decent night’s sleep more often.
Skip the snooze – Pressing snooze, and trying to squeeze in those few extra minutes, can actually leave you feeling worse, as you repeat the interrupted sleep cycle again. Instead, pop a light on to prompt your body to stop producing sleep hormones, and start producing wake hormones.
Let the light in – If you feel yourself battling to keep your eyes open during the day, bright light can really help to wake you up – so try to get outside for ten minutes, or sit by a window.

TOP 20 SLEEPIEST UK CITIES: