The Irish Times Sleep Challenge

The Irish Times is challenging its readers to take sleep more seriously and improve their health. Over four weeks our four sleep champions will have their sleep monitored and their problems analysed. Follow their journey and find out more about the importance of sleep and why it shapes your health

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Sleep is not just a quantity issue but also a quality one. Photograph: Getty Images

The results are in: we are not getting enough sleep

Health & Family
Olga Lee
March 18, 2014, 01:00

Sleep champions: Fourth and final week

Sleep champions: Fourth and final week

Health & Family
Grainne Faller
March 4, 2014, 01:00

Being tired doesn’t have to be part of the ageing process

Being tired doesn’t have to be part of the ageing process

Health & Family
Olga Lee
February 25, 2014, 01:00

A common myth about sleep and growing older is that we need less of it; while this is untrue, there are age-related issues to consider

Week Four

Holly Fawcett

Avoiding technology and repaying sleep debt more gradually is moving Holly in the right direction

Lisa Walsh

Mindfulness and realising things may never be ideal, have lead to great sleeps for Lisa

Conor Pope. Photograph : Matt Kavanagh / THE IRISH TIMES

Conor has curbed his technology addiction, resulting in better sleep, but 'madder dreams'

Laura Gaynor

Changing little bad habits is leading to a major life upheaval for student Laura

Week Three

Lisa Walsh

The sleep challenge is alerting Lisa to factors that affect her sleep

Holly Fawcett

It’s been a tough week for Holly Fawcett. A key challenge is winding down to sleep.

Conor Pope

Pope contracted a serious case of manflu this week but on the plus side this resulted in less alcohol consumed

Laura Gaynor

Gaynor has been going to bed earlier, getting up earlier and says she’s feeling less exhausted

Week Two

Lisa Walsh

With shift working and a busy lifestyle, it may be impossible for Lisa to get perfect sleep

Holly Fawcett

Fawcett finds life gets in the way of good sleeping patterns

Conor Pope

Conor Pope's sleep patterns

Laura Gaynor

Student Gaynor needs to get into the routine of getting to bed earlier

Week One

Holly Fawcett. Photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times

Holly Fawcett (28) works long hours as marketing manager for Social Talent, an internet recruitment training company. She tries not to work weekends but often takes work home

Lisa Walsh photographed at her home in Santry, Co.Dublin. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons / THE IRISH TIMES

Lisa Walsh (44) is a health professional and single parent of three boys aged 13, 11 and eight. She works from 6pm-5am three times a fortnight as well as sharing the care of her children with their father

Laura Gaynor at IADT. Photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times

Laura Gaynor (19) is a first year student in film and television production at IADT, Dún Laoghaire. She stays in digs near college during the week and likes to get up early and go to bed early

Conor Pope. Photograph : Matt Kavanagh / THE IRISH TIMES

Irish Times journalist Conor Pope (45) gets up at about 7.30am on weekdays and is rarely in bed before midnight. He reckons he eats quite healthily apart from a penchant for crisps and coffee.

Sleep Focus

Putting our bad bedtime habits to bed

We have a good idea about how much exercise we need and what food is good, but many of us know very little about sleep

On average we spend one-third of our lives in bed. Photograph: Getty Images

Sleep is one of the pillars of mental health

Health & Family
Olga Lee

Insufficient sleep can have a great impact on our daytime functioning – in particular in vital areas such as driving

Ireland’s silent epidemic: sleep deprivation

Health & Family
John Faul

Why do so few people get the sleep hours they need and why do they not appreciate the importance of sleep?

Health Founders The Irish Times Sleep Challenge is in association with Health Founders

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