Football fever keeps fans awake this summer
From all-nighters to exhausted mornings, fans reveal the lengths they'll go to avoid missing a moment of the action
Football fans* across the UK are sacrificing sleep to follow the summer's biggest international fixtures, with almost half (42%) staying up later than usual to watch a match this tournament, while a further fifth have gone to work feeling exhausted (22%) or struggled to concentrate in the office (20%) as a result.
Fear of missing the action is keeping fans glued to the screen. Nearly one in five (19%) would stay up as late as necessary to watch their team, rising to a quarter of men (25%), while one in ten (10%) would pull an all-nighter if it meant seeing their team crowned champions.
Half of football fans (49%) are not concerned about the impact the football has on their sleep, with more than two in five (43%) saying they would happily disrupt their usual routine to catch the action. In fact, 40% believe the excitement is worth feeling tired the next day - even though a quarter admit they regret staying up once the alarm goes off the following morning (24%).
The football is already reshaping daily routines beyond bedtime. Almost one in ten fans (9%) admit to calling in sick after staying up to watch a match, while a further 10% have considered taking a sick day.
And it's not just adults caught up in the excitement – nearly half (46%) of parents would let their children stay up later than usual to watch a football match, even if they had school the next day.
While many fans are willing to sacrifice sleep for football, almost one in five (19%) say they have already noticed the impact of repeated late nights on their health. Research from Vitality and the London School of Economics highlights the value of maintaining regular sleep habits, showing that going to bed at the same time each night and getting at least seven hours of sleep are key to supporting long-term health.
The good news is that the occasional late night is unlikely to have a lasting impact on your health. The research shows that getting enough sleep on at least five nights a week is enough to support positive health outcomes.
Dr Katie Tryon, Deputy CEO at Vitality Health says: “For many of us, watching the football is one of life's great pleasures, and occasionally staying up late for a match is not going to impact you significantly if your overall approach to sleep is good. Consistently having poor sleep can affect your heart health, immunity and mental wellbeing. Being mindful of that, and planning ahead where you can, means you can enjoy every match and look after your health.”
Dr Tryon shares her top tips for managing sleep disruption during a summer of sport:
- Stick to a routine where you can, to smooth out the swing: Having a consistent and good approach to sleep more generally can really help. Try to keep your sleep and wake times within a consistent window to reduce the impact of short-term disruption and follow the 7:1 rule (getting seven hours of sleep and keeping bedtime and wake-time within about an hour for every non-game night.)
- Avoid going completely without sleep: Even a few hours’ rest before and after a late match is better than none, as the negative effects on mood, focus and performance can be felt after just one poor night.
- Be mindful of late-night habits: Alcohol, caffeine, bright screens and artificial light can all make it harder to fall asleep after the game. Caffeine lingers for up to eight hours; alcohol fragments sleep; and nicotine disrupts sleep quality. All are best avoided in the evening.
- Take extra care the next day: Disrupted sleep is linked to reduced concentration and a higher risk of accidents, so it’s important to plan lighter days where possible.