The average Brit endures 12,584 sleepless nights over the course of their lifetime, a new study has revealed.
Getting a full night's sleep is harder than you'd think
Researchers found the typical adult wakes up twice at least four nights a week due to a call of nature, sudden external noises - including car horns or heavy rain - or a partner's snoring.
A restless one in twenty of the adults studied said they wake up five times every single night.
The findings emerged from a sleep report conducted by hotel chain Premier Inn, which studied the sleep patterns of 4000 Brits.
It found that the average person aims for seven hours sleep every night but three quarters of those polled never achieve this.
As a consequence a quarter of workers said they feel so tired in the day it's impossible to concentrate on their job.
And another one in four said a lack of sleep makes them cross and short tempered.
Not surprisingly 30 per cent of those who took part in the study said they were absolutely exhausted by the time they go to bed.
Claire Haigh, spokeswoman for Premier Inn, said: "Over 12,000 disturbed nights over a lifetime sounds a vast figure but it's an affliction many will be able to relate to.
"The results show that being tired after a bad night's sleep can really take its toll on our productivity at work, our mood and our behaviour towards others.
"Our sleep index highlights just how many millions of people fail to get a full and good night's sleep and shows how a lack of sleep can really impact on our day to day lives."
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The study found 17 per cent said they remain in a foul mood all day if they haven't had enough shut-eye.
And one in ten employees said they were likely to take out their sleep deprivation on colleagues - although partners bear the brunt of the insomnia.
The study found it takes the average person just over 20 minutes to drop off after turning off their bedside light.
But it's bad news for couples as most people who completed the sleep report claimed they slept better when they were on their own.
Not surprisingly the day of the week that adults sleep best is a Friday night with Mondays being the worst.
The sleep report found that 45 per cent of people rely on an alarm clock to wake them up, although one in ten depend on the kids coming in their room to rouse them.
Nearly a third of people claim to wake up completely naturally during the week but this increases to nearly two thirds on a weekend.
The study found that on a weeknight the average adult hits the sack at 10.48 pm but this extends to 11.18pm pm a weekend.
Professor Kevin Morgan AcSS PhD AFBPsS, from the University of Loughborough's Sleep Research Centre, said: "These results confirm that sleep disturbances are the most commonly reported psychological symptom in Britain, affecting our health, our relationships and our efficiency at work.
"Improving the nation's sleep quality could make a major contribution to the wellbeing and prosperity of Britain."
