Beijingers are Losing Lots of Sleep, Studies Show
Mar 18 was World Sleep Day, and if there's one thing Beijingers aren't getting enough of, it's sleep. According to the National Health Commission, Beijingers only get an average of about 7.6 hours of sleep a day, with about 24.9 percent of residents suffering from insufficient sleep.
Beijing, along with the other areas outlined in black on the map, are the most sleep-deprived areas of China. The dark purple areas are slightly less sleep deprived, whereas the light purple areas get enough sleep
So, what's keeping Beijingers awake? Let's have a look at some of the top culprits.
Not surprisingly, electronic devices are one of the biggest reasons Beijingers can't sleep. According to a survey on the health of white collar workers in Beijing conducted by the China Sleep Research Society (CSRS), about 49 percent of Beijing residents scroll through their phones before they go to bed. What's more, about 45 percent of those who sleep after midnight play with their phones.
Are you one of those who have to scroll through your phone before going to sleep？
Money is also keeping people awake. According to an insomnia survey also conducted by CSRS, nearly 80 percent of people lose sleep over financial problems. The survey found respondents aged 39-54 were the most affected by financial problems, and about 58 percent of young people aged 23 to 38 also experience sleeping problems over not having enough money to live on.
In a city like Beijing, you can expect the living costs to be extremely high. Although according to the National Bureau of Statistics, Beijing is ranked in the top three of per capita disposable income, with about RMB 69,434 on average, many Beijingers are plagued by high rental fees, rising food prices and the costs of activites such as exercise, experiencing culture or entertainment.
Consumer spending has gone up in Beijing over the years.
Another important factor that affects sleep quality appears to be stress and the negative impact that stress has on getting a good night's sleep. A report from the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences shows that 70 percent of Beijingers have felt stressed about their life at one point.
When asked about what's causing the pressure, about 71.9 percent of respondents said that they were concerned about rising housing prices, and 57.8 percent worried about medical costs, and about 48.1 percent worried about their retirement plans.
What's keeping you awake?
Moreover, younger adults in China seem to have poorer sleep compared to their older counterparts. According to a 2019 National Health Report, on average, young adults aged 12 to 22 only sleep about 6.85 hours, and people aged about 23-33 sleep about 7.07 hours.
To cope with a lack of sleep, many young people have been spending a lot of money on products like sleep spray or sleep monitors to improve their sleep quality. It's estimated that the market size of the sleep economy in 2021 will exceed RMB 400 billion.
Have you spent money on getting sleep-aid products before?
Are you getting enough sleep? If so, what's your secret to a good night's rest? Let us know in the comments!
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