March 15, 2024, New Delhi: Sleep Equity for Global Health is the theme for the 2024 World Sleep Day, reemphasizing the importance of a sound sleep at night. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a recent interaction at a Digital Creator’s award ceremony in Delhi emphasised the importance of sleep in one’s life, underlining how he is not disciplined regarding his sleep routine. Global experts stress that sleep is essential to health, but measurable differences in sleep health persist across populations across the world, creating additional burdens and reinforcing health inequities.

Sleep scientists and doctors in India and globally say the quality of uninterrupted sleep — which includes the number of hours a night -- and waking up refreshed has been deteriorating since COVID and we are only beginning to recover. Indians are generally considered poor sleepers but our sleep debt soared during the pandemic, and most people are still trying to catch up.

Researchers at the Centre for Consciousness Studies, department of neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans), Bengaluru, have found that one-third of Indians experience severe dyssomnia, a term for a variety of sleep difficulties including insomnia, having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, waking up tired and a need to sleep excessively. These symptoms were worsened by the pandemic. Several studies globally have shown that people with long-Covid (symptoms prolonging after Covid-19 recovery) experience insomnia and sleeplessness due to anxiety. In addition, those with heart problems, asthma, diabetes and other life-style diseases tend to have poor sleep patterns. A group of researchers from the University of Arizona is currently in the process of developing a model for a groundbreaking national study aimed at addressing sleep-related issues in people dealing with long-Covid.Before the pandemic, a 2019 study conducted by the US-based Fitbit across 18 countries found that Indians are the second-most sleep-deprived people in the world, with an average nightly sleep of seven hours and one minute. They rank after the Japanese, who report an average sleep duration of six hours and 47 minutes.

LocalCircles, as a platform has been tracking How Indian’s sleep since 2022. On the occasion of World Sleep Day 2024, LocalCircles is bringing outs its 2024 study, “How India Sleeps” to create awareness about the issues Indians face in getting a good night’s sleep along with some crowdourced inputs from people who are relatively sleeping well. The study has received over 41,000 responses from citizens located in 309 districts of India. 66% respondents were men while 34% respondents were women. 41% respondents were from tier 1, 24% from tier 2 and 35% respondents were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts.

61% of Indians surveyed got less than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night in the last 12 months

Surveys conducted by LocalCircles in the past couple of years have shown that an increasing number of citizens have problems getting uninterrupted for even 7 hours. The new survey asked “How many hours of uninterrupted sleep have you generally gotten at night in the last 12 months?” The question received 13,557 responses with the largest group of 38% stating that they generally got only “4-6 hours” uninterrupted sleep at night in the past 12 months and 23% stated “up to 4 hours”. Of the rest, 28% of respondents stated “6-8 hours” uninterrupted sleep at night in the past 12 months; 6% stated “8-10 hours” and 5% stated over 10 hours. To sum up, 61% of Indians surveyed got less than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night in the last 12 months.

When compared to the surveys done earlier, the percentage of Indians who get less than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep daily has risen from 50% in 2022, to 55% in 2023 and to 61% in 2024.

72% of respondents state that they wake up to use the washroom once or more during their sleep

There are many reasons why people are not able to get uninterrupted sleep at night for even 6 hours. This could be age related, health related, need to fill up water in cities or colonies where supply is available for short time in the early hours, household duties or professional work, to tending the sick, elderly or small child/ children. The survey asked respondents, “What are all the different interruptions you generally experience that prevent you from getting 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night?” Some among the 14,078 who responded to this query stated more than one reason for their sleep interruption at night. The main reason stated by 72% is “have to use the washroom once or more during the sleep time”; 43% stated that they went “late to bed and schedule/ household activity in the early morning hours”; 25% indicated “other factors like mosquitoes, external sounds”; 22% of respondents stated “just can’t sleep for 8 hours straight”; 10% stated “children or partner related interruption”; 7% stated “mobile calls and messages related interruption”; 2% indicated “uncomfortable bed/ mattress”; and 7% stated “other interruptions” not stated above. In addition, 15% of the respondents stated that this question is “not applicable” to them as they sleep for 8 hours or more generally.

26% Indians surveyed say their sleep quality has deteriorated post the COVID pandemic

Large percentage of people have admitted in previous LocalCircles surveys to having their sleep disrupted after falling sick once or more due to COVID. To understand how much of their sleep disruptions they attribute to the Covid pandemic, the survey next asked “How has the quality of your sleep changed post the COVID pandemic?” The question received 13,627 responses with 26% sharing that their sleep quality “has deteriorated”. Of the remaining, 59% shared that their sleep pattern remains “same as pre-pandemic”; 5% stating that their sleep “has improved” and 10% of respondents did not give a clear response. To sum up, 26% Indians surveyed say their sleep quality has deteriorated post the COVID pandemic.

In summary, the survey shows that 61% of Indians got less than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night in the last 12 months, with 38% of respondents generally getting only “4-6 hours” uninterrupted sleep at night and 23% hardly “up to 4 hours”. What is worrying is that as against 50% of those surveyed in 2022 stating that they get less than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep daily, which rose to 55% in 2023, this year there is a further rise to 61% of respondents with complaints of inadequate sleep. One of the biggest reasons, according to the survey result, is that as many as 72% of respondents “have to use the washroom once or more during the sleep time”. Further, 26% of those surveyed say their sleep quality has deteriorated post the COVID pandemic. This is an issue that needs further probe by medical researchers. Health experts including practitioners of yoga and meditation often emphasize that a healthy body and mind helps to improve sleep quality. A routine of daily walking or exercising for around an hour, healthy diet, light meal at night, meditation, reading a book and not scrolling or playing on gadgets, are some of the ways recommended for a better quality of sleep. If you are one of those hooked to your mobile phone or television watching, it is better to keep these out of reach or switched off before going to sleep. Some believe in the old age practice of a glass of warm milk or any other drink to help in sleeping. More important is to keep worrying for another day. For the best crowdsourced tips on a good night’s sleep follow the top tips below from citizens who are managing to get a good night’s sleep.

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