SleepRate Survey: Summer Months Bring More Stress, Less Sleep

SAN FRANCISCO - June 18, 2014 - PRLog -- Palo Alto, Calif.—June 18, 2014 – SleepRate (http://www.sleeprate.com/), a company that helps people sleep better to improve their quality of life, today released the results of a new survey that found as much as 33% of Americans lose sleep during the summer months due to hectic summer schedules, vacations, allergies, and warmer weather.

While people typically associate summer with relaxing vacations and lazy afternoons at the beach, that doesn’t mean they are getting the quality sleep they need. According to SleepRate’s survey, 48% blame less sleep on busier social schedules, with 69% feeling obligated to attend as many as three social events per week – that’s almost half of summer! Even travel and vacations, while still considered fun, boost stress levels for 35%.

Parents, the survey suggests, may find themselves particularly harried with 43% admitting their kids’ new schedules, daycare needs, and other summer-related issues added more stress to their lives.

Of those who have a harder time sleeping during the summer months, 70% blame the warmer weather (80% overall sleep better in cooler temperatures) while 21% blame their bedtime woes on summer allergies.

Twenty-Something Stamina

Of all age groups, 18-29 year-olds are most likely to feel more relaxed during the summer (75%). They also tend to pack more into their schedules, with 63% attending up to 3 events per week, 14% attending up to 6 events per week, and 9% attending as many as 9 events per week. Despite this, 77% claim their summers are less stressful than the rest of the year.

“For many, vacations, barbeques and simply passing the time away will always be what summer is about,” said SleepRate CEO Uli Gal-Oz. “But it’s important for people to realize that summer fun itself can add stress and chew up time in a way that deprives them of much-needed sleep. By making sure a good night’s sleep is always included in their summer plans, people can have more energy and an easier transition into fall when it’s back to business.”

Additional survey findings include the top regions that find summer less relaxing:

South Atlantic (52%)
West South Central (48%)
West North Central (46%)
Pacific (46%)

More than 300 US residents (18 years-old or older) participated in the SleepRate Summer Stress Survey, conducted online during the month of May 2014.

About SleepRate

Based in Palo Alto, California and Petach Tikva, Israel, SleepRate (http://www.sleeprate.com/) uses a smartphone and a heart rate monitor to accurately assess sleep issues, and offers an individualized sleep improvement plan, based on the Stanford University's CBTI protocols. This unique approach offers a level of insight, not currently available, in identifying the root causes of sleep issues and helping improve sleep. SleepRate currently offers the only solution that combines sleep analysis with steps to resolve sleep problems. The company has been founded and is led by leading experts in sleep medicine.