Sleep is a reset for the mind and body. A good night’s sleep strengthens both physical and cognitive health, and helps people better perform tasks that require long periods of concentration. Being well rested can, for example, help people work more productively, drive more safely and think more clearly.

Given the impact that the pandemic had on our daily habits, it is worth exploring how our sleep may have changed as a result.

Let’s take a closer look at how sleep duration and efficiency changed across the globe since the start of the pandemic through the sleep patterns of global Samsung Health users.

Sleep Duration Versus Efficiency: Why It Matters

When it comes to sleep, longer duration does not necessarily mean better quality. For the purpose of this analysis, duration refers to the amount of time in bed trying to sleep, while sleep efficiency measures the percentage of time in bed that we actually spend sleeping.

While changes in lifestyle habits during the pandemic saw individuals globally sleeping longer, there seems to be no correlation between sleep duration and sleep efficiency.

In fact, despite people in all countries enjoying longer sleep times on average than before the pandemic, we actually experienced an overall decrease in sleep efficiency.

What’s more, the results varied by genders. While both males and females are resting more than they were prior to the pandemic, males are not only seeing a longer increase in sleep duration, they are also seeing a larger decrease in sleep efficiency compared to females.

Age is another factor providing interesting insights. While all age groups slept longer, sleep efficiency in fact decreased as age increased. The exception here is people between the ages of 20 and 39, who actually experienced a jump in sleep efficiency. Furthermore, this age group was the only one showing a significant increase in both duration and efficiency.

How the Pandemic Changed Regional Sleep Habits

We also undertook a deep dive into the 16 countries where individuals use Samsung Health the most to see how sleep habit trends varied by region. While all 16 countries saw an increase in sleep duration – with people, on average, waking up later than they used to – the effect on sleep efficiency was mixed.

Region-specific changes in global sleeping habits can be seen as follows:

• While sleep duration remained the longest – both pre- and post-pandemic – in France, the country’s sleep efficiency decreased.
• Users in Korea recorded one of the biggest increases in sleep duration and efficiency during the pandemic, but still remained under the global average.
• The U.S. saw the biggest dip in sleep efficiency out of all the regions measured.
• While Germany saw the highest global sleep efficiency scores before the pandemic, it has since witnessed one of the most significant decreases in sleep efficiency.
• Argentina recorded the highest sleep efficiency following the start of the pandemic.
• While Indonesia was the region with the lowest sleep efficiency before the pandemic, this distinction now belongs to Vietnam. Furthermore, out of the 16 countries studied, Indonesia saw the highest increase in sleep efficiency from pre- to post-pandemic levels.
• Indonesia also saw a wake-up time delay of 11 minutes on average following the start of the pandemic. It was and remains the region recording the earliest wake -up times.
• Mexico is the region that has seen the biggest change in wake-up and sleep times. Going-to-bed time changed by 11 minutes on average, and wake-up time was delayed by 17 minutes.

How You Can Improve the Quality of Your Sleep

It is often said that healthy sleep for the average adult is 8 hours a night^[1]. However, as the results show, sleep quality may also be an important factor to consider. Sleep tracking is one way we can better understand our sleep patterns to ensure that we are getting a better night’s sleep.

Many Galaxy customers take advantage of this, with 50% of Galaxy Watch users keeping track of their sleep at least once a week. Of those, 40% do so more than three times a week^[2]. In order to manage your sleep better, take a look at these tips for using the Galaxy Watch series^[3] and consider adopting some to ensure each night of sleep is as restful as possible.

• Keep track of your sleep patterns^[4]: Sleep Score provides you with detailed data on when you enter deep sleep, REM sleep, and how your sleep and wake-up times vary.
• Understand your sleep quality better: With Blood Oxygen monitoring and Snore Detection^[5], you can learn more about your sleep patterns as well as your overall health.
• Try a sleep training program: With Sleep Coaching^[6], receive a tailored sleep guide program based on your actual habits, represented by one of eight dedicated sleep symbol animals, in order to help you understand and improve your sleep.
• Set up an ideal sleep environment: Given that where you sleep is just as important as how, consider adding an auto-setting on the temperature and light controls in your home to ensure the environment is ideal for rest.

The power behind your next best day, Samsung Health x Galaxy Watch5. Learn more here:

• Samsung Health: https://www.samsung.com/my/apps/samsung-health/
• Galaxy Watch5 Pro: https://www.samsung.com/my/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch5-pro-black-titanium-bluetooth-sm-r920nzkaxme/buy/
• Galaxy Watch5: https://www.samsung.com/my/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch5-40mm-silver-bluetooth-sm-r900nzsaxme/buy/

Samsung Health app download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sec.android.app.shealth&hl=en&gl=US

^[1] The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours of sleep per night for the typical adult.

^[2] Based on Samsung Health weekly active users with Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch5.

^[3] Availability may vary depending on market, model and the paired smartphone.

^[4] For sleep pattern results, user must wear watch while they sleep for at least 7 nights and complete a survey.

^[5] The default setting for snoring detection is off. Users can turn the setting on with their smartphone at anytime using the Samsung Health App 6.18 version or above.

^[6] The Advanced Sleep feature is for fitness and wellness purposes only and not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or disease.

– John Lopos, CEO, National Sleep Foundation

[1]

In today’s busy world, it’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of our lives. We understand the benefits of prioritizing sleep, but the to-do list is never-ending and can cause our stress levels to go up.

This has been highlighted in a recent study from one of the world’s leading sleep organizations, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), finding that during the pandemic, more people in the US have been sleeping longer, but the quality of that sleep has suffered.

In fact, the NSF believes one of the biggest challenges facing the public is the need to keep prioritizing sleep for our health and well-being. Embracing the continuously growing category of sleep technology can help. From smart environmental controls to smart sleep tracking, cutting-edge and evolving technologies are reinventing and improving the sleep experience for the public. Sleep technology is coming to the industry forefront as consumer brands – like Samsung – are prioritizing sleep related capabilities within their products.

To find out more about the impact sleep technology can have on improving sleep health, we sat down with NSF CEO John Lopos to take a closer look at the intersection of sleep and technology.

Managing Routines and Tracking Progress

According to the NSF’s 2022 Sleep in America® Poll, there’s significant opportunity to improve daily activities that are associated with positive sleep and health outcomes. Eating your meals at a consistent time, the amount of physical activity completed in the day, and even the level of light exposure during the day and around bedtime, all impact sleep health and are manageable.

The NSF has specific guidelines and recommendations for positive sleep health, and this, Lopos said, is where “technology can be a thread that runs through our sleep experience. It helps us as a reminder, a facilitator, a communicator and a tracker, and can play a role in helping meet the NSF’s recommendations for better sleep – both while awake and asleep.”

Keep up with your daily workout routine with Galaxy Watch4 for a good night’s sleep

Controlling Your Sleep Environment

The right kind of light exposure during the day and night can make the difference between a good night’s sleep and a restless night. With nearly 60 percent of Americans saying they look at screens very often or somewhat often in the hour before bed or while in bed before sleep, it’s no wonder sleep quality is on the decline as light from phone, laptop and TV screens can significantly impact sleep.

And while technology can be the culprit when used inappropriately, like viewing screens too close to bedtime, it can also be part of the solution. “As people prepare for sleep, technology can help establish a sleep-friendly environment, help with a wind-down process that makes people feel more calm and relaxed, and then — and this is important — take its place in the background without disrupting a person’s sleep,” noted Lopos. A good example of this is the SmartThings functionality[2] which allows users to program a pre-set time to turn off the bedroom TV and turn down the lights as part of a bedtime routine to help prepare them to sleep and create better sleeping conditions throughout the night.

Easily control your bedroom lightings with SmartThings to create a sleep-friendly environment

Adjusting Sleep Patterns

While sleep technology can play a meaningful role and help with long term health benefits, it can also help users adjust sleep patterns in the near term. Whether “springing forward” or “falling back”, Daylight Saving Time can have a significant impact on sleep. To help prepare, the NSF provides a number of tips including prioritizing natural daylight exposure, adjusting your clocks the night before the time change, and in the week leading up to a clock change, going to bed a little earlier each night to adjust your sleep schedule. The NSF also encourages the practice of relaxation techniques to help get a good night’s sleep every day, including during a time change disruption. The Galaxy Watch4 and the Samsung Health app can help with this by empowering users to manage their mindfulness through its breathing, meditation, and stress monitoring capabilities[3].

Monitor your stress level with Galaxy Watch4 and follow through the breathing guide to prepare your body for a better sleep

Better Sleep Today and Tomorrow from Samsung

It’s with this understanding of the power of sleep technology that Samsung has introduced features on the Galaxy Watch4 that are empowering users to track and meet wellness goals and help users work toward a better night’s sleep.

For example, the new sleep coaching program on the Galaxy Watch4 helps users achieve better sleep habits and achieve their sleep goals2. The Samsung program assigns one of eight sleep symbol animals representing the user’s sleep type after tracking sleep patterns over seven days and completing two related sleep surveys. Then, it guides users through a four-to-five-week coaching program that includes missions, checklists, guidance and reports to support users as they work towards improving their sleep health.

With wearable devices now a regular part of many people’s lifestyles today, tracking and understanding elements of sleep are more common than ever – and the NSF wants to see even more access to sleep technology, believing that the sleep technology industry is going to ride new waves of collaboration and knowledge sharing. “We’re going to see even more integration across wearable and connected devices, lifestyle and wellness platforms, and home goods,” Lopos affirmed. “People’s choices and feedback will confirm there’s lots of room for products and services that use sleep technology.”

The future of sleep technology is promising, and Samsung is committed to developing and enhancing their sleep offerings and capabilities with the sleep expertise of the National Sleep Foundation.

To learn more about the Galaxy Watch4 series or the National Sleep Foundation, please visit:

Galaxy Watch4: https://www.samsung.com/my/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch4-black-bluetooth-sm-r870nzkaxme/buy/

Galaxy Watch4 Classic: https://www.samsung.com/my/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch4-classic-black-bluetooth-sm-r890nzkaxme/buy/

National Sleep Foundation: http://www.thensf.org/

[1] The Galaxy Watch4’s purple colour strap is not available in Malaysia market.

[2] Requires the latest versions of Samsung Health mobile app (v.6.21), Samsung Clock mobile app (v. 12.1.10.5) and Samsung SmartThings mobile app (v. 1.7.59.23). Available on smart devices that are registered to SmartThings.

[3] Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, or treatment of any medical condition or disease. The measurements are for the user’s personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.