One third of Brits feel depressed if they don’t get enough sleep

More and more attention is being focused on wellbeing and mental health, and shops are bursting with self-care guides and books on mindfulness, but one of the biggest influences on how we feel is our energy levels. And our energy levels are predominantly driven by sleep. 

Bensons for Beds has carried out a study revealing the large extent to which sleep impacts our mental health. The research found that 69% of people feel at their wit’s end due to lack of sleep, and 31% even feel depressed if they don’t get enough shut eye. 

This comes as little surprise. The Sleep Foundation states that when you don’t get the recommended seven to nine hours of quality sleep, it can heavily influence your outlook on life, energy level, motivation, and emotions. Those with insomnia are 10 times more likely to have clinical depression, showing a correlation between sleep deprivation and low mood. 

The need for a good night’s sleep couldn’t be clearer and, with this in mind, Bensons for Beds has launched a new sleep diet model. This is nothing to do with food, but offers free advice for those struggling to get to sleep. Setting aside the common misconception that there’s a one-size-fits-all solution to getting a better night’s sleep, Bensons For Beds has identified seven sleep personalities:

·The lie in lover, who hits snooze on a regular basis and uses the weekend to ‘recover’ from lack of sleep during the week

·The tech addict, who may work well into the evening and take their tech to bed with them

·The energy obsessed, who relies on caffeine to get through their day

·The over thinker, whose mind runs wild when the lights go off

·The adaptor, who plans their life around their sleep issue and often cancels social activities as a result

·The ritualist, who sets themselves a strict sleep regimen and follows any and all tips and advice about sleep

·The sweet spot, for those who have a healthy, positive relationship with their sleep

Take the quiz to find out which sleep personality you are, and you can discover your specific sleep diet (that is, the things to do, and not do) in order to combat your sleep problems. Tips include getting up at the same time every morning for ‘lie In lovers’, scheduling one hour of tech in the early evening for ‘tech addicts’, and getting ready for bed an hour earlier than usual for ‘over-thinkers’. 

‘We are all so different, and there are a range of so many different types of sleep issues,’ says sleep expert Stephanie Romiszewski. ‘These will change over our lifespan, as sleep is not a stagnant process. It could be that you are a mix of profiles, so you should use the advice which works for you. The most important thing is to maintain a positive, healthy attitude about sleep.’ 

Of course, this model is a guide to help, but if your lack of sleep continues to affect your day to day life, book an appointment with your doctor.

Another good start? Get the best mattress you can.

More on sleep:

• How to sleep in the heat
• Best pillow 2019
• The gender sleep gap: why women sleep less than men