Sleep and rest - recommendations from the Directorate of Health

-Automatic translation

The activities of the Directorate of Health in the field of sleep are divided into education, research, and health promotion projects.

The Directorate of Health aims to promote better sleep and well-being among Icelanders at all stages of their lives. This is done, for example, by focusing on increasing knowledge among the public and the government on the importance of sleep and the factors that contribute to good sleep and sleeping habits.

• Good sleep is necessary to cope with each day's challenges and positively affects the immune system, concentration, and learning ability. Furthermore, it is essential for the growth and development of children.

• According to surveys, more than a quarter of adult Icelanders sleep too little, or about 6 hours or less per night, while the recommended amount of sleep is 7 to 9 hours.

• The results of studies regarding children and adolescents show that some of them sleep too little.

• According to results from the Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis, almost half of the adolescents in the 8th-10th grade sleep 7 hours or less per night. The recommended sleep for that age group is 8-10 hours.

Raising awareness about the importance of sleep

The Directorate of Health is responsible for raising awareness of the importance of sleep for all age groups to promote improved sleep and sleeping habits among Icelanders.

• Raising awareness about the importance of sleep to promote better sleep in Icelanders.  - Plan (Icelandic)

Through the awareness about the importance of sleep, the emphasis is placed on reaching Icelanders at all life stages of their lives with various measures.

Material on sleep

• Recommendations that promote better sleep (Icelandic)

• Preferred sleeping time for each age group (Icelandic)

• Promoting better sleep with good sleeping habits (Icelandic)

Learn more about sleep

• Better sleep (Icelandic)

• Sleep Institute - Reykjavik University