1 in 6 Brits spend 9K On A Good Night’s Sleep
MattressNextDay found that of those that buy sleep aids, more than 1 in 6 (15%) spend at least £150 per year. If someone were to spend this figure every year from the adult age of 21 years old until they turn 81 (which is the average lifespan in the UK), this amounts to £9,000 over 60 years.
Why Are Brits Struggling To Sleep At The Moment?
Martin Seeley, CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay said: “We’re currently living through a period where the cost of living is at its highest in 30 years. Whilst our days may be busy and preoccupied with work, family life and errands, once we get into bed and have time to stop and pause, our minds may become preoccupied with money worries. These anxious feelings can keep you up at night and disrupt your sleeping pattern, which is why so many Brits have begun to spend money on trying to get a good night’s sleep – as our survey results have shown.
The Top Nine Sleeping Aids Brits Are Most Dependent On
But what sleep aids are Brits buying? After analysing over 5.4 million UK Google Searches, MattressNextDay have uncovered the top nine most popular, plus the average cost of buying these.
| Sleeping aid | Number of Brits Googling this per year | The average cost to buy |
| 1. CBD oil | 1,920,552 | £57.93 |
| 2. Lavender oil | 1,567,120 | £7.26 |
| 3. Sleep spray | 963,920 | £12.16 |
| 4. Calm app | 690,750 | £28.99 |
| 5. SAD lamp | 687,900 | £61.66 |
| 6. Sleep therapy | 647,430 | £225.00 |
| 7. Oura ring | 418,750 | £225.00 |
| 8. Sleep stones | 114,720 | £13.66 |
| 8. Fitbit tracker | 52,050 | £109.99 |
| TOTAL | £741.66 | |
Whilst cannabidiol (CBD) is popular in America, it’s a relatively new market in the UK and, therefore, surprising to see that it’s the number one most popular sleeping aid, generating almost 2 million UK Google searches in a singular year. Given its newness, more studies need to be performed to prove its sleep-enhancing qualities, however, a previous study revealed that it improved 66% of participants’ sleep quality.
Lavender oil is the second sleeping aid Brits are most dependent on, generating over 1.5 million Google Searches in the last year. Not only is it the most affordable of the sleeping aids analysed (costing an average of £7.26), but it’s effective and a natural product so you won’t suffer from any side effects, such as grogginess, an upset stomach or a headache. To use lavender oil, you should pour a few drops onto a hanky or face cloth and place it under your pillow. The smell has sedative properties which help you drift off.
Sleep sprays are a relatively similar concept and came third in MattressNextDay’s findings. These bottled liquids contain herbal ingredients to help relax the body and induce sleep after being sprayed onto your pillow. They’re also the second cheapest option of those analysed, costing an average of £12.16.
In the past year, there were 690,750 searches for the Calm app, and a further 687,900 for SAD lamps, again highlighting our reliability on tools and devices to help us sleep. The Calm app boasts sleep stories and breathing techniques, while SAD lamps help regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
Further highlighting just how much we are struggling to sleep, in sixth place is ‘sleep therapy’ which was searched for 647,430 times last year. You can access this privately, sometimes at the cost of hundreds, or through your GP who may refer you for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
The Oura Ring, made famous by Kim Kardashian, has also seen a significant 40% rise in searches over a year. This ring bills itself as the most accurate sleep tracker, with a price tag starting at £224. Similarly, searches for ‘Fitbit sleep’ hit over 50,000 last year, suggesting more Brits are determined to measure just how well they sleep.
Sleep stones work in a similar way to pillow mists and are the eighth most popular aid. To use, you simply open the jar of stones and allow the aromas to fragrance the room, helping you drift off. Searches for sleep stones jumped a staggering 84% in the last year to 114,720!
How To Fall Asleep In Five Minutes Using This FREE Technique
Whilst many Brits spend money on trying to get a good night’s sleep, did you know that there’s a free breathing technique that can help you fall asleep in just five minutes?
The 4-7-8 breathing technique is one of the most commonly used treatments for people suffering from insomnia. To perform it:
- Make sure to place the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth and press up to the roof of your mouth. You’ll need to keep your tongue here while doing this technique.
- Breathe in through your nose for four seconds.
- Hold your breath for seven seconds.
- Breathe out through your mouth for eight seconds. End this breath as if you are blowing out a candle.
- Repeat as many times as needed.