Getting more sleep tops Brits’ New Year resolutions list this January, as expert explains how to adopt healthier sleep habits
Move over, weight loss and Dry January—Brits are swapping traditional resolutions this New Year’s for one clear goal: getting more sleep.
A survey from UK bed specialist Bensons for Beds found half of UK adults cite getting more sleep as their top priority for the New Year, far outpacing the 29% pledging to lose weight and the 24% aiming to get fitter.
This shift underlines a growing awareness of sleep’s critical role in overall health and wellbeing—which is understandable, given how quality sleep is foundational for achieving other goals.
Bensons’ findings point to a nation grappling with the effects of a chronic lack of rest, with 6 in 10 (63%) adults saying they wake up feeling shattered, and the average night’s sleep lasting just 5.6 hours—far below the recommended 7 to 9 hours.

Resident sleep expert, Dr Sophie Bostock, explains: “Research shows that getting 7 or more hours of good quality sleep not only protects our physical health, but also supports our mental health, relationships and productivity. It’s really encouraging to hear that so many people are prioritising sleep this January. I really hope that these are resolutions that will last the entire year.”
Searches for “why can’t I sleep” also peak during the first week of January, indicating a collective post-holiday reckoning with poor sleep habits and a focus on health for the new year. And it’s no wonder—almost half (44%) admit they were unable to fully switch off from work during Christmas, while over half (54%) say they need a holiday just to recover from the season’s chaos.
This sleep deprivation is taking a toll, with 58% waking up feeling anxious about the day ahead and 43% citing work worries as a barrier to rest. January’s return to work looms large, leaving 46% of Brits daunted by the prospect.
Dr Sophie Bostock added: “The links between sleep and mental health are bidirectional. Poor sleep worsens anxiety, but positively, prioritising sleep reduces the risks of common mental health disorders. The emphasis we’re placing on sleep-focused resolutions isn’t just a trend—it’s a recognition of sleep’s transformative impact on mental health, productivity, and quality of life. This shift toward prioritising rest reflects a growing awareness that the key to achieving more may start with doing less.”

With getting more sleep being such an important New Year resolution for so many of us, here are Dr Sophie’s sleep health and wellness tips for designing a winning sleep resolution this January (and beyond):
- Brainstorm all the habits that you could change to improve your sleep timing, or quality. What has been a challenge in 2024? What has been sabotaging your sleep? If you were advising your best friend to improve their sleep, what would you tell them? Start with a long list—you don’t need to reject any ideas yet. Popular ideas might be less scrolling late at night, drinking less caffeine, waking up at the same time (even at the weekend), eating earlier in the evening, sticking to a routine bedtime.
- How can you make it easy? To adopt a new habit, it needs to be something you can do very easily, which could have a meaningful impact on your sleep. When we’re tired, even small changes might feel overwhelming, so try to think of the easiest way of making that change. For example, instead of giving up caffeine entirely, try only buying decaf coffee to keep at home, or stop drinking caffeinated drinks from midday.
- How can you remind yourself to make the change? The most common reason that our resolutions fail is that we forget about them. How will you remind yourself to stick to this new habit? You could try setting a reminder on your phone or enlisting a partner or close friend to make the change with you. For example, if you want to stop scrolling in bed, try to get the whole family to leave their phones in the kitchen overnight—all set an alarm at 9pm, and remind each other that it’s time to switch off.
- Track the impact: Wearable sleep trackers are increasingly popular, but if you didn’t get a sleep tracker for Christmas, printing out a sleep diary and monitoring your habits manually is another great way to measure the impact of your new sleep habits.
- Celebrate success: Feeling positive when you’ve completed your new habit is the key to repetition. Every time you repeat the desired behaviour, tick it off on your sleep diary and allow yourself a congratulatory smile. Perhaps you could treat yourselves to something special at the end of each week when you’ve met your habit goals?
For more tips to sleep better in 2025, visit Bensons’ website: https://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk/sleep-hub/new-year-resolutions-suggestions/