Garmin data uncovers sleep trends: How do you measure up?
Garmin’s got the scoop on global sleep patterns ahead of World Sleep Day. The data whispers secrets about gender, age, and those elusive hours we spend with our eyes shut. Turns out, women may have a slight edge with an average sleep score of 71 to men’s 70. For us Brits, it’s interesting that the UK is climbing up the rankings. At least, so far this year.
For those not in the know, World Sleep Day falls on March 15th. This is when sleep health advocates take action across the globe to raise awareness on the benefits of getting quality rest.
Garmin Smartwatches have received a boost in 2023 with a few new sleep metrics. Amongst these are the long awaited nap tracking and the Sleep Coach. These are coupled with already extensive data the devices can track including individual stages of sleep. Plus Garmin watches spit out a comprehensive Sleep Score which lets you know at a glance if you’ve had a good night’s rest.
I’m very active – I train and walk a lot. But getting enough quality sleep has always been a challenge. That’s why in 2024, I made it my New Year’s resolution to improve my Sleep Score. I’m averaging 66-67 this year, which isn’t stellar, but it’s better than before.
This is why I found the international Garmin data so interesting. It allows me to compare myself to others in different countries and the global average. Turns out, I’ve got room for improvement! Maybe a little extra snooze time wouldn’t hurt…
Garmin data reveals how we sleep
Beyond the above mentioned gender data, Garmin reveals that it is not just wrinkles that creep in with age. Your sleep score takes a hit too.
The numbers show a steady decline – those sprightly 13-30-year-olds boast a 73, but by the time you hit 71-80? That score’s down to a lackluster 63. This gradual decline points to an inverse relationship between age and the ability to achieve higher-quality rest. Time to start treasuring those deep sleeps while you’ve got ’em!
The Brits have started to crack the sleep code! Last year, their national average was a snooze-worthy 69.29. But this year? They’ve jumped to 71.41, breaking into the top 10 best sleepers. What’s the secret? More tea before bed? A national “nap hour”? This is worth investigating…
At the top of the leaderboard are those masters of work-life balance, the Dutch, clocking in at just under 73. Could their bike-friendly culture and relaxed vibes be translating to deeper sleeps? Scandinavians aren’t far behind – those social safety nets must be as comfy as a duvet!
Down near the bottom, Chile and Argentina hang around the 69-point mark. Are late-night tango sessions to blame? The stress of inflation? Brazil is not faring much better. Their sleep struggles raise questions about how lifestyle and economics might be messing with those precious Zs.
So how do you compare?
Interested in learning how you stack up? It’s not too difficult.
The easiest way to do this is to click the Sleep Score metric in your Garmin Connect dashboard. Or tap the three dots at the bottom right corner of the app, choose Health Stats and then Sleep.
The top tab shows a 1 day, 7 day, 4 week and 1 year option. You can’t choose 2024 (the period the international chart is based on), but you can look at the past 4 week period, and then scroll back to the previous 4 week period. Average the two figures and you should get a pretty good understanding on how your Sleep Score is performing so far this year.
Via: Endurance.biz
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