Recognising the Importance of Sleep for World Sleep Day 2026

Each year, World Sleep Day aims to bring together health professionals, researchers and advocates across the globe to raise awareness about the significance of quality, healthy sleep. World Sleep Day is facilitated annually by the World Sleep Society.

World Sleep Day not only amplifies the importance of a good night’s rest, but highlights the impact of sleep disorders.

It encourages everyone, including organisations, institutions, and businesses to encourage the prioritisation of sleep by recognising its impact on quality of life.

World Sleep Day – A Global Call to Action

Issues with sleep are a global health concern. A vast majority of the world’s population are affected by sleep problems in some shape or form, threatening health and, again, overall quality of life.

Even though many sleep disorders are preventable or treatable, very few seek out professional help for them. World Sleep Day acknowledges this problem, and intends to address it through raising awareness. It also aims to raise awareness of the crucial benefits of healthy, quality sleep.

Why Sound, Restorative Sleep is Essential

You may think that getting the required amount of hours in bed is enough to count as healthy sleep, but you’d be wrong. Of course, sleeping for the recommended duration is ideal, but the key to success is that quality matters over quantity.

What Are the Effects of Poor Sleep?

Poor quality sleep can negatively affect:

Physical health and tissue repair

Immune system strength

Emotional wellbeing and balance

Memory consolidation and learning

Hormone regulation and metabolism

Brain waste clearance and neurological health

Alertness and attention during the day

Focus, productivity, and overall performance

In the long term, poor sleep can also affect:

Long-term disease risk

Impact on longevity

According to the World Sleep Society, there are three elements of quality good sleep. These are:

Duration – the duration of sleep should be enough for the person to be rested and alert the following day

Continuity – the sleep should be seamless and without interruptions

Depth – sleep should be deep as this is what allows it to be restorative – an essential benefit of sleep

There are many ways to tick off the checklist above, but it’s not always straightforward. As we mentioned earlier, things such as sleep disorders, as well as mental health issues, can affect all three elements.

Sleep should be taken seriously, and so if you’re finding it difficult to get enough quality sleep on a regular basis, it’s important not to ignore the issue.

Want to Know More About Sleep?

To read more about World Sleep Day and to find out more facts about sleep, you can visit the organisation’s website here.

What Can I Do to Improve My Sleep?

There are many things you can do to get better sleep. Some may decide to pay a visit to the doctors for a diagnosis, and potentially try medical prescriptions if symptoms are severe.

At Touch Tuina, we prefer to approach sleep problems with a natural, more holistic approach. Often, sleep problems can be spurred on by external and internal factors, such as environment, level of physical activity, and our current mental state.

Discussing your sleep issues with one of our practitioners may give you better insight into what may be causing them. This can help you get closer to the root cause of the issue.

A few basic things you can do yourself to help your quality and duration of your sleep include:

Engaging in regular exercise, which can help regulate energy levels and support deeper sleep

Reducing light exposure when trying to sleep, particularly artificial lighting

Reducing light exposure when trying to sleep, particularly artificial lighting

Avoiding using digital devices at least 1 hour before bed – especially avoiding stimulating mediums like social media

Creating calming evening routines, such as taking a warm bath or using a relaxation magnesium foot soak

Limiting stimulants in the evening, including coffee and other caffeinated drinks

Avoiding alcohol or spicy foods late at night, which can disrupt sleep quality

Maintaining regular, balanced meals, rather than skipping meals or eating too late in the evening

Reducing excessive raw foods at night, which in Traditional Chinese Medicine may weaken digestion and affect sleep

Small, consistent habits like these can make a meaningful difference in helping the body and mind transition into restful sleep.

Keep an eye out for part two of this feature next month, where we’ll discuss the Traditional Chinese Medicine approach to achieving better sleep!