World Sleep Day

World Sleep Day takes place on Friday 17 March and is an annual event intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep.

To mark the event we have collated some resources that you might find useful for gaining a better understanding of the importance of sleep and help you identify ways in which you can improve your sleep hygiene.

Sleep is essential for health, and is the body’s opportunity to restore, rejuvenate and repair but a good night’s sleep can be harder for some to achieve than for others.

Stress, excessive screen-time, noise disruption or a diagnosable sleep disorder can all lead to a lack of sleep, which can be hugely detrimental to our health, so we should strive to get as much good-quality sleep as possible.

Effects of poor sleep

You are probably already aware of the immediate effects a poor night’s sleep can have, but regular, insufficient and poor-quality sleep can have long-term effects on many aspects of our physical and mental health.

According to the NHS, studies have shown that a lack of sleep can make it harder to think clearly, impact memory recall, weaken the immune system, lead to weight gain and cause an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Research has also shown that a poor night’s sleep can reduce our ability to manage our emotions, impact impulse control, reduce positive thinking, increase worry and lead to or worsen depression.

How to get a better night’s sleep

The World Sleep Society recommends various steps you can take to help you get a better night’s sleep - take a look at the graphic below for some top tips.

More information

If you would like more information, you can find sleep advice and support on The NHS Every Mind Matters website, as well as on our Staff Wellbeing Hub and Vivup platform.