Better Sleep Month takes place in May every year. It is observed to encourage people to get adequate sleep daily to get all the benefits it offers. It also shows how poor sleep can disrupt lives. Gone are the days when you brag about how little you sleep but, just like diet and exercise, sleep is crucial to physical, mental, and emotional health. A survey conducted by the Better Sleep Council found that two out of three respondents reported impaired sleep due to stress. One night per week, one-third of Americans experience poor sleep at least and 16% are diagnosed with stress-induced insomnia.
History of Better Sleep Month
Our sleep schedules are believed to be directly related to mental and physical health. The Better Sleep Council (B.S.C) was established in 1978 and is the consumer-education arm of the International Sleep Products Association. Its mission is to educate the public about the critical relationship between sleep, good health, and quality of life, as well as the value of the mattress and sleep environment to get a good night’s sleep.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 45% of Americans say that poor or insufficient sleep affected their daily activities at least once in the past seven days. The goal of the N.S.F is to celebrate the benefits of good and healthy sleep and draw attention to the burden of sleep problems and promote the prevention and management of sleep disorders.
Sleep loss, over the years, has become a big public safety hazard every day on the road. Just as drunk driving, drowsiness can slow reaction time as much as driving drunk. These made the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimate that fatigue is a cause of 100,000 auto crashes and 1,550 crash-related deaths a year in the U.S. The Better Sleep Council estimates that $150 billion in lost productivity and absenteeism results from poor sleep. The Better Sleep Council continues to devise ways to drop the stats as they know that getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night has a long list of benefits, such as helping you maintain a healthy weight, concentrate more easily, feel energized, and protect your long-term health.
Better Sleep Month timeline
Laborers adjust their sleeping schedules to one long rest due to the Industrial Revolution.
The Better Sleep Council is established.
Carl Jung publishes his book “Memories, Dreams, Reflections” and theorizes the importance of dreams.
The National Sleep Foundation is formed to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Better Sleep Month FAQs
Who discovered insomnia?
Johann Heinroth discovered insomnia in 1818.
Is insomnia genetic?
No, insomnia isn’t genetic.
What causes nightmares?
Nightmares are triggered by many factors, with the most common being stress and anxiety.
How to Observe Better Sleep Month
Get a comfy mattress
Get a comfy mattress to celebrate Better Sleep Month. They do wonders for sleep patterns as a non-to-comfy mattress can cause problems.
Spread awareness
Spread awareness about the month. It helps to bring others in on the celebration.
Sleep early
Celebrate the month by sleeping early. Sleeping the required seven to 8 hours daily has a host of benefits to be enjoyed.
5 Important Facts About Sleep
15% of the population are sleepwalkers
This is according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Sleep deprivation kills faster than food deprivation
While none of them is positive, sleep deprivation kills faster.
50% of dreams are forgotten
You might want to write down that dream as soon as you wake up because 50% would be forgotten in the next five minutes.
Falling asleep should take approximately 15 minutes
You are sleep-deprived if you fall asleep in five minutes or less.
Humans spend one-third of their life sleeping
That seems quite a lot, but humans actually use a third of their lives to sleep.
Why Better Sleep Month is Important
It encourages rest
Better Sleep Month encourages rest. Getting rest comes with a lot of health benefits that everyone should experience.
It helps people fight sleep deprivation
The month helps fight against sleep deprivation as it educates people on what it is and how to combat it. A lot of people are living with conditions like insomnia, and so they are helped by getting a better education in this period.
It reduces hospital visits
Better Sleep Month reduces hospital visits. As it continues to educate people, hospital visits due to sleeping conditions are reduced.
Better Sleep Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | May 1 | Thursday |
| 2026 | May 1 | Friday |
| 2027 | May 1 | Saturday |
| 2028 | May 1 | Monday |
| 2029 | May 1 | Tuesday |
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