As per Wakefit.co’s Great Indian Sleep Scorecard (GISS) 2022, 57% increase in Indians staying up late doomscrolling. The fifth edition of the Great Indian Sleep Scorecard (GISS) 2022 shows that the pandemic has had the worst impact on sleep habits for those under 18.
Since 2018, the GISS report has been tracking India’s sleep habits and has received over 2 Lakh responses from all parts of India.
Studies show that people living in metropolitan areas are experiencing the worst sleep quality – one in four Indians believe they have a sleep disorder.
India’s population is 59%, and 59% go to bed after 11 PM. One of the main reasons for this is social media.
36% of people believe that digital media affects their sleep.
88% of respondents agreed that they check their phones before going to bed. However, 92% of those surveyed did not do so in the last year’s survey.
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Comparatively to last year, however, at least 4 Percent fewer people check their phones before they go to sleep this year. In addition, 74% of those surveyed have created dedicated space for their sleeping areas in their home.
The problem is most severe for those aged 18-24 who complain about their sleep being disturbed by the environment in their room. Eighty percent of young people under the age 18 said that they don’t feel refreshed after getting up. One in four Indians has experienced insomnia.
Comparatively to Covid-19, there has been an increase of 57% in the habitual use of social media late at night.
31% of women feel they have lost their sleep, and 23% of men feel the same.
38% of women and 31% respectively feel that social media keeps their awake longer.
– 50% of teens under the age of 18 also feel they have had insomnia – that is, they suffer from sleep disorders.
The hybrid work culture, i.e. People’s habits of falling asleep or feeling asleep at work have decreased since the advent of Work From Home (WFH). It was 83% who used to sleep at work in the 2020 survey. That number has fallen to 48% in 2022. This means they can now strike a better balance between home and work.
City surveys are not included in this report.
– Forty percent of Kolkata’s residents go to bed after midnight
– 40% of Hyderabadians stay up late to work
Gurugram residents believe that work is a deterrent to their ability to sleep. 36% of them agree.
– However, 39% of Mumbaians and 29% in Gurugram think that electronic devices are a waste of time.
43% of Delhiites feel they must reduce their time using digital media.
As the largest sleep study with over 2 Lakh responses garnered across 5 years and 30,000+ responses this year, the GISS study highlights key observations in India’s sleep patterns. The report also shows stark differences in Indians’ sleep patterns post-pandemic. Below are the findings.
Technology is the biggest threat to blissful sleep…
India is home to 59% of the population who go to bed later than 11pm. The majority blame social media for their late-night sleeplessness, with 36% blaming it on digital devices. An alarming 88% use their phone before bed. Although this number is down from last years (92%), it is still a huge indicator of digital addiction.
…but awareness seems to be on the rise
According to the report people are more conscious of their sleep spaces and are taking steps towards improving it. They are adapting to the changes in their lives that have been caused by the Covid-19 epidemic. GISS 2022 shows that 74% of respondents claimed they had a separate sleeping area in their home. This percentage was significantly higher for those under 18 years old, with 80% of respondents sharing this habit. A further indicator of a closer relationship to their bed spaces is the fact that 65% of respondents make their bed right after they wake up.
Youngsters have high awareness, but poor sleep health.
It is a well-known fact that people sleep better when their bedrooms have the right temperature, light levels, and comfort. The report showed that 50% of 18- to 24-year olds believed that their bedroom environment had a negative impact on their sleep health. However, 40% of the same age group didn’t have a dedicated space for sleeping. The senior citizen group seemed to be the least concerned about dedicated sleeping spaces, with only 18% claiming that their bedroom environment has an impact on their sleep. Despite having a dedicated sleeping area, 80% said they didn’t feel refreshed when they woke up.
Both women and children fall prey to the fear that insomnia will strike.
According to the data, one out of four Indians believe they have insomnia. In addition, late-night social networking has seen a 57% increase in this year’s numbers compared with pre-pandemic years. Women are more afraid of falling asleep than men, with 31% versus 23% for women. 31% of men and 38% for women feel that they are awakened by social media. A further 50% of people under 18 believe they have insomnia. 44% of these people believe that a better mattress could improve their sleep.
Hybrid work culture: a boon
The hybrid working model has had a positive effect on individuals. The percentage of people feeling tired during work has dropped from 83% in 2020 (prepandemic period), to 48% by 2022. Because it allows people to take naps at regular times, the hybrid working model appears to have had a positive effect on them. This kind of work environment is conducive to people’s well-being, as it balances home and work. Since last year, there was a marginal drop of 5% in people staying awake late because of work. Even though it is marginal, the hybrid workplace seems to have a positive effect on late-night workaholics.
The connection between digital media and metro cities
People in different cities have varied reasons for staying up late. Mumbai has been beaten by Kolkata in terms of burning midnight oil, with more than 40% of the city going to sleep well past midnight. Nearly 40% of Hyderabad residents said that their work required them staying up late. Gurugram came in at 36%. Late sleeping patterns are also caused by electronic devices and social media. 39% of Mumbai’s population is awake late browsing social media, while 29% of Gurugram is awake due to late-night binge watching. However, 42% of the population of Bangalore and 43% of Delhites stressed the importance of reducing digital device usage before bed.
Chaitanya Ramalingegowda (Co-founder and Director of Wakefit.co), commented on the report. “At Wakefit.co we have been analysing the sleep patterns from people across the country to understand the way India has been sleeping over five years.” Our findings have given us better insight into the science of sleeping and have allowed us to educate people about its importance.
He added, “In 2022, we observed that over 59% of people went to bed past the ideal bedtime of 11 pm. As a provider of sleep and home solutions, our goal is encourage more people to be more focused on sleep and the benefits of a consistent sleep schedule. We believe the findings of the study will be a hit with people across the country. It will help them understand the factors that could be affecting their sleep and inspire them to make positive changes for better sleep.
The Great Indian Sleep Scorecard (an ongoing survey) received 30000+ responses in the 2022 edition. It was recorded between March 2021 and February 2022. It includes all Indian cities and covers all age groups. Over 2 Lakh respondents have responded to the survey in the last five years.