Scores of people struggle to fall asleep and get a restful night — so much so that new research reveals Britain is facing a national sleep crisis.

Recent insights from soundcore indicate that 87% of adults admit they struggle to fall asleep or maintain sleep. On average, adults in the UK only get 6.5 hours of sleep per night, which is 1.5 hours less than the NHS’s recommended 8 hours.

This shortfall adds up to a deficit of more than 10 hours each week, essentially equivalent to losing an entire night’s rest weekly. Sleep is essential for most individuals; 90% regard it as vital to their wellbeing, yet one-third (34%) are dissatisfied with their sleep quality.

The average Brit takes 30 minutes to drift off, with stress (49%) and screen time (27%) being the main reasons among those who struggle.

Poor sleep is having significant repercussions, with almost 57% of Brits reporting it affects their energy and motivation. A little over 55% notice impacts on their mental health and mood, and more than 36% observe consequences on their physical health.

More than a quarter (27%) see drops in productivity at work, and one in six (16%) say their relationships are suffering.

Young adults are among the most affected, with 95% of 16 to 24-year-olds surveyed experiencing sleep issues, and parents of children aged 6-8 reporting similar struggles (92%).

Stress, snoring, and sleepless nights

Noise is a significant issue, with 77% of those who have difficulty falling asleep being disturbed by disruptive sounds.

Snoring is the leading noise disturbance, with 26% citing a snoring partner as the most common sound that disrupts their sleep. One in five (20%) also blame snoring partners for difficulties in initially falling asleep.

Although 83% have attempted various methods to improve sleep, including music, podcasts, and mindfulness apps, one in four (26%) participants find these attempts ineffective, highlighting the severity of the sleep crisis and the urgent need for effective solutions.

A staggering 92% of Britons regard sleep as important, but one in three (34%) are unhappy with their sleep. Noise, from traffic to neighbours to snoring partners, keeps 77% awake.

Despite 83% having tried ways to improve their sleep, nearly one in four (23%) say nothing they’ve attempted has worked.

Poor sleep affects every aspect of life: 57% report low energy and motivation, 55% say it impacts their mood and mental health, and 36% notice effects on physical health. The majority of Brits – approximately 6 in 10 – sleep on their side, making comfort an essential part of healthy rest.

Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity, says: “These findings highlight the scale of Britain’s sleep crisis. Missing out on recommended rest doesn’t just leave people feeling tired – it affects mental health, productivity, relationships and physical wellbeing.

“Stress and screens are two of the biggest culprits, but partner disturbance – most commonly from snoring – comes close. Snoring is more than just an annoyance: it’s one of the leading reasons couples sleep apart and it can strain relationships as much as it impacts sleep quality.

“For the partner on the receiving end, interrupted rest can quickly add up to daytime fatigue, irritability and even resentment. For the snorer themselves, persistent snoring may indicate an underlying health issue such as sleep apnoea, so is worth getting checked out by a GP.”

Not everyone has the luxury of sleeping in a separate bedroom, so in those circumstances discovering methods to minimise or eliminate the sound of grunts and snores becomes essential.

Regarding achieving a superior night’s slumber, there are straightforward measures everyone can implement to promote better rest, such as establishing a sleep-conducive bedroom environment (cool, quiet and dark), limiting screen exposure before bedtime, maintaining a regular sleep pattern and developing a soothing bedtime ritual.

To assist in addressing common sleep disruptions, soundcore, Anker Innovations’ audio brand, has unveiled the soundcore Sleep A30, the world’s first sleeping earbuds with Smart Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and real-time Adaptive Snore Masking technology. Its standout features include smart ANC that blocks up to 30dB of noise, including snoring, traffic and other low-frequency sounds.

The device also boasts automatic sleep monitoring and sleep position tracking among other handy features. The earbuds are retailing for £199.99 and can be purchased from soundcore and Amazon.