Operation Slumber – The Long And Short Of Insomnia Today

Wide awake even before your alarm goes off? We take a deep dive into sleep issues and remind ourselves why we should make quality sleep a priority, especially during the pandemic.

- Syed Zulfadhli

Articles about poor sleep have mushroomed all over the Internet now more than ever, reflecting how the pandemic has affected the way we sleep. According to the 2021 global sleep survey by Philips, 60 percent of Singaporeans’ sleep quality has suffered as a result of the pandemic, with three in 10 saying they are now sleeping less each night. The American Psychological Association also reported a rise in sleep disorders since the pandemic began, with two in three Americans clocking inconsistent hours of sleep due to pandemic-related stress.

Philips’ sleep survey ranked Singapore fourth among the 13 most sleep-deprived countries, after Japan, the US, and UK respectively. The question is, would we not be sleep-deprived without a pandemic?

LIVING IN A DIGITAL WORLD

According to researchers, evidently not. Those who have been studying the science of sleep for decades suggest that sleep issues are prevalent, pandemic or not.

Mary Lyn Belmonte, respiratory therapist and polysomnographic technologist at Easmed Singapore, considers digital devices the main culprits for sleeplessness, even more so now that we’re living in the digital age.