World Sleep Day is a holiday that’s observed annually during the month of March. We can’t say that it falls on any particular day of this month, only that it’s observed between the 10th and 20th of every year. That’s because it is observed on the Friday before the Spring Vernal Equinox each year.

It’s a holiday that aims to make everyone realize the importance of sleep and to take action if they suffer from sleep deprivation or other types of sleep disorders. Everyone can take the time to celebrate this day by learning more about sleep and by spreading the word about it online using the hashtag #WorldSleepDay.

The History of World Sleep Day

World Sleep Day was created by the World Sleep Society in 2008. It was introduced to the world in collaboration with the World Association of Sleep Medicine (W.A.S.M.). Although this holiday started out slowly with not many people observing it at first, it has since grown into a truly international holiday that’s observed by people all over the world. And considering how important sleep is to everyone, we’re sure that this is a holiday that will continue to be observed well into the future.

Facts About Sleep

Below are some important facts about sleep that we think people should know. After all, most people are going to spend a third of their life sleeping, so they should know a little bit about it. With that being said, allow us to humbly present the following facts about sleep that we feel will give people the confidence they need to seek their own answers about sleep and its effect on the human body.

• Approximately a third of U.S. adults get less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep each night.
• The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes, on average.
• About 1 out of 4 Americans report insufficient sleep at least half of the month.
• The most common sleep disorder is insomnia.
• It’s been estimated that approximately 38 million Americans snore on a regular basis.
• Alcohol should never be consumed right before bed because it can interfere with sleep.
• On average, women sleep more than men.
• 66% of high school students get less than 8 hours of sleep on school nights.
• Parents of newborns lose 6 months of sleep during the first two years of the child’s life.
• Mothers who sleep in the same bed as their babies get more sleep than women who don’t.
• Newborn babies sleep on average 15 hours during any 24-hour period.
• Creative people tend to sleep more but get less restful sleep.

Observing World Sleep Day

This holiday is officially observed every year with educational presentations, discussions, and exhibits. These events not only occur in cities around the world but are also presented through online events.

As we said earlier, however, this holiday need not be observed only in an official capacity. People can also take it upon themselves to observe this holiday. This can easily be done by learning more about the importance of sleep and the sleep disorders that can affect a person’s health.