Up all night: Worry about the future, excessive smartphone usage before bedtime causes behind poor sleep habits of Indians

The 6th edition of the Great Indian Sleep scorecard also reveals a whopping 87% of Indians use their phones just before bed and surprise, surprise, it turns out many of us have anxiety

Ahead of World Sleep Day, Wakefit.co, released the 6th edition of its Great Indian Sleep Scorecard (GISS) 2023. The key findings in 2023 indicated that 55% of India’s population has been going to bed post 11 pm, while last year the number was 66%. Despite a reduction in late-night sleepers since last year, the report revealed an 11% increase since 2022 in the number of people who didn’t feel refreshed on waking up in the morning. Worrying about the future combined with excessive usage of cell phones before bedtime has led to deteriorating sleep habits in Indians. The report revealed that there was a 38% increase in the number of people staying up late at night worrying about their future, while a whopping 87% of Indians still use their phones just before bedtime. Read on for key findings from the survey:

Early To Bed, Tired To Rise

Despite more individuals going to bed early since last year, the report indicated an 11% spike this year in people not feeling refreshed after waking up. 61% of male respondents stated that they felt refreshed in the mornings, which was significantly higher compared to 53% of female respondents.

Girls Just Want To Have Sleep
Compared to last year, the number of women feeling refreshed upon waking up in the morning has reduced by 25%. This trend has also been witnessed across workplaces with 67% of women feeling sleepy during work hours as against 56% of men. Overall, the year saw a 21% increase in people feeling sleepy during work hours as compared to last year.

Letting Go Of Late Nights
The year witnessed a growing number of under 18-year-olds prioritising their sleep health. The report underlines a steady increase in the number of people across age groups going to bed before 10 p.m, which increased by 65% since last year. The most significant contributor to this was a 200% increase in the number of under 18-year-olds going to bed before 10 p.m.
Sleep On The Go
The year 2023 witnessed a 42% increase in people who slept in places other than their beds. The report also indicated a 75% increase in under-18-year-olds, and a 38% increase in 25 to 34-year-olds sleeping in places other than their beds. Not maintaining a dedicated sleep space can be a serious cause of disturbed sleep. There was also a 54% increase in women sleeping in places other than their beds compared to last year, with a 42% increase in men doing the same. This ties in with individuals not feeling refreshed despite going to bed on time.

Night Light
Checking social media before bedtime keeps people awake as the use of electronics can affect sleep through the stimulating effects of light emitted by digital screens. The report indicates that 87% of Indians use their phones before bedtime, with 78% of people staying up late browsing social media in the age group of 25 to 34. Despite an increase in social media consumption, late-night binge-watching has reduced by 40% in women vs 33% in men since last year.

Insomnia Continues To Grapple The Nation
As per the report, almost one in three people believe that they have insomnia, with 90% of Indians waking up at least once or twice during the night. Insomnia was more prevalent among middle-aged people, with 56% of those aged 25 to 34 reporting it. Even 40% of young individuals under the age of 18 stated that they felt that they were insomniacs. The data highlighted an increase in people worrying about their future late at night, which has risen by 38% this year. While this year saw a 40% increase in men worrying about their future, this number increased by 28% among women.

About the survey: The Great Indian Sleep Scorecard is an ongoing survey and the 2023 edition received 10,000+ responses, recorded from March 2022 to February 2023. It covers respondents in all Indian cities, across age groups, and various demographics. The survey has collected close to 2.5 lakh responses to date for the last 6 years.