Lying for a lie-in?
Many of us are so desperate for a lie-in and a day in bed that we would actually hand back our hard earned cash to be able to do so.
That’s according to new research which reveals that nearly half of working people would be prepared to pay anything between £20 and over £100 for a guilt-free day between the sheets.
Furthermore, a third of people admit they have ‘thrown a sicky’ for no other reason than to spend extra time in bed.
And with a quarter of those surveyed saying they only get to sleep in once a month, it’s no surprise that when the clocks go back this weekend six out of 10 of us will use the extra hour to have a lie-in.
That's even more than when The Sleep Council first asked the same question 15 years ago in 1995 - and the reason the annual autumn return to Greenwich Mean Time has been celebrated as National Sleep-In Day ever since.
Not surprisingly, 44% of men love nothing more than a bit of ‘sex and the sicky’, putting making love at the top of the list of things they like to do when lazing in bed, while women put reading, sleeping, watching TV or a movie and eating treats well ahead of a romp under the bedclothes.
Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council says, “A luxurious day in bed with no work, no pressure and no hassles is seen as a real indulgence," said Jessica. "Many of us are so time poor that a day spent reading, watching telly, listening to the radio or catching up with friends on the phone is considered a great treat. While men chose sex as the way to spend the day, women were significantly more interested in the things they feel they rarely get to do.”
In fact less than a quarter of women (24%) said sex would be top of their list of things to do - indeed it only just beat surfing the net as a preferred activity (23%).
Basic tips for a better night's sleep:
- Keep regular hours. Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time, all the time, will programme your body to sleep better.
- Create a restful sleeping environment. Your bedroom should be kept for rest and sleep and it should be neither too hot, nor too cold; and as quiet and dark as possible.
- Make sure your bed is comfortable. It's difficult to get deep, restful sleep on one that's too soft, too hard, too small or too old.
- Take more exercise. Regular, moderate exercise such as swimming or walking can help relieve the day's stresses and strains. But not too close too bedtime or it may keep you awake!
- Cut down on stimulants such as caffeine in tea or coffee - especially in the evening. They interfere with falling asleep and prevent deep sleep. Have a hot milky drink or herbal tea instead.
- Don't over-indulge. Too much food or alcohol, especially late at night, just before bedtime, can play havoc with sleep patterns. Alcohol may help you fall asleep initially, but will interrupt your sleep later on in the night.
- Don't smoke. Yes, it's bad for sleep, too: smokers take longer to fall asleep, wake more often and often experience more sleep disruption.
- Try to relax before going to bed. Have a warm bath, listen to some quiet music, do some yoga - all help to relax both the mind and body. Your doctor may be able to recommend a helpful relaxation tape, too.
- Deal with worries or a heavy workload by making lists of things to be tackled the next day.
- If you can't sleep, don't lie there worrying about it. Get up and do something you find relaxing until you feel sleepy again - then go back to bed.
