As we approach the New Year, organizations, influencers, and everyday individuals start to reflect back on 2023. What is trending? What can we do better to grow our business? How can our nonprofit serve more in our community? What should I continue doing in 2024 and stop doing in 2024?
Part of reflection is to take time and make goals. I don’t think it is uncommon for people to ask themselves how can be happier and healthier. This explains why January leads the entire year in new gym memberships. But there is one important area people overlook when making their New Year’s resolutions: healthy, quality sleep.
Happiest Countries in the World
In 2023, Finland took the top spot for the happiest country in the world followed by Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. If you know your geography, these top seven countries all reside in Northern Europe, specifically five that are Nordic countries (minus Finland and Switzerland).
Six categories are reviewed each year by Gallup polling data across the world to rank countries: gross domestic product per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make your own life choices, generosity of the general population, and perceptions of internal and external corruption levels.
Interconnected with happiness is health and wellness. Taking care of our spiritual, emotional, physical, and psychological selves creates a rooted person who self-regulates, self-reflects, and self-soothes in adversity and hard times. Sleep makes or breaks this healthy pattern adults work to collect toward happiness.
American Trending Sleep Reports
In a recent survey from U.S. News & World Report, more than 20% of American adults say they rarely or never wake up feeling well-rested. The survey also found 43% of adults experiencing insomnia and 17% suffering from sleep apnea. When asked the top five reasons for sleep disturbances, Americans answered similarly in 2022 except for the presidential election in 2024 creeping into the top five.
- The increase in the cost of living
- The COVID-19 pandemic
- Gun violence
- Climate change
- The 2024 presidential election
Further, the study asked American adults to answer what bad habits contributed to their lack of quality sleep.
- Going to bed at inconsistent times
- Accessing screens in bed
- Eating too much before bed
- Falling asleep with the television on
- Staying up all night
A few of these can be easy answers like removing the TV from the bedroom, creating a nighttime routine, and leaving the smartphone outside the bedroom. But it does take hard work and consistency.
Scandinavian Sleeping
Not knowing this trend was already in use at our house, Scandinavian sleeping is becoming a norm in U.S. households. When I was pregnant with our second child, I could not get comfortable and it started early in the first trimester. We purchased separate bedding so I would lower the chances of waking my spouse up from my hot/cold temperament.
When asked, 41% in the study found that having their own blanket was preferred, but many had not tried it at home. The Scandinavian sleeping method also includes keeping a duvet per shared bed with no top sheet.
Does this equate to a more quality night’s rest in the happiest countries on earth? Maybe try it in your home and see if your sleep quality increases which can help shift your mood to the happiest, holistic individual.
If you are in a pattern of sleepless nights that are negatively affecting your health, your family, or your career, connect with the Alaska Sleep Clinic for a free consultation Our sleep medicine specialists offer the help needed to get back on track with a quality, healthy night’s sleep.
