Who can’t sleep in Cyprus?

‘I couldn’t believe there were people taking their kids to restaurants until 11 in the evening!’

Cyprus sleeps more than most!

In the UK, people sleep an average of seven hours a night; in the UAE, it’s 6.8 hours. Albania sleeps the most (almost eight hours), and The Philippines sleeps the least (around 6.5 hours).

On this island, we get an average of 7.1 hours a night. Though that, says the research, is across all ages. If you look more specifically at certain periods of life, you can see a drastic reduction in both sleep quality and quantity…

Researchers have identified 33 as the magic number: the age at which most of us slip below the average of seven hours per night. Coincidentally, it’s roughly the time when the majority of Cypriots have their second child (or the first reaches the terrible twos!). And it’s also around the age at which most of the island leaves the parental home and strikes out alone – so we can factor in increased financial stress, extra responsibilities and a significant lifestyle shift.

“33 is such a pivotal age because everything seems to happen at once,” says sleep consultant Tammy Peacock. “You’re juggling young children, trying to build a career, and often dealing with the financial stress of setting up your own home. Sleep is usually the first thing to go.”

It’s worse for women, she adds.

“Women sleep more than men, but the difference is negligible – just seven minutes more per night – and their sleep quality isn’t as good. Especially in Cyprus where traditional roles persist: the woman often takes on the majority of the mental load, cooking, cleaning, organising. And now she’s also working a full-time job!

“So while men get into bed and drop off immediately, women’s brains keep going – the presentation, the shopping list, the birthday present, the school project… And this definitely impacts slumber.”

A recent study on Cyprus suggests that the worst sleepers on the island are married, well-educated, middle-aged women in Paphos!

“By the time you’re in your 50s, you’re probably juggling family responsibilities, careers, hormonal changes and caring for elderly parents,” says Tammy. “So sleep is definitely affected. But I’m not sure why Paphos stands out!”

Neither are the study’s authors. Is there something happening on the western end of the island that we don’t know about? It’s not the kids – along with Nicosia, Paphos actually has the lowest percentage of under-4s on the island.

Is the town a secret hotbed of nightly noise?  

South-African born Tammy, who moved from London (where she was a child protection social worker) to Singapore and then to Limassol suggests that Cyprus as a whole is among the noisiest place she’s lived!

“There’s a constant hum of traffic; cats and dogs yowling and barking; construction noise all hours of the day and night. It’s not easy to get three kids to sleep, let alone yourself!”

However, Tammy is The Sleep Goddess – a name she took on when she set up her sleep consultancy service in 2023 after the birth of her third child. And if anyone has the answer to giving the kids a good night’s sleep, it’s her.

“I know first-hand how lack of sleep can impact mental health and daily life for both parents and kids,” she says. “Those 4am strolls with the pram, the constant rocking, the endless worry. You end up exhausted – and wondering where you’re going wrong! But it’s all normal, and you’re definitely not alone. Maybe you just need a bit of help…”

As a family sleep consultant, Tammy brings a fresh pair of eyes to the situation.

“One of the first things anyone asks a mum is ‘Is your baby sleeping through the night yet?’ The answer,” she grins, “is usually no. That makes you feel a bit of a failure, doesn’t it?

“But what if I told you that babies aren’t actually designed to sleep through the wee hours? The mother’s breast milk supply is actually highest at night – so both mum and baby are wired to wake and feed!”

With her expert knowledge, Tammy is here to advocate for good sleep for the whole family. And while Cyprus has been a bit of a shock – “at first I couldn’t believe there were people taking their kids to restaurants until 11 in the evening! Then I found out about siesta time” – she does note that the island has the best diet in the world for a good sleep.

“The Mediterranean diet – when you adhere to it – is fantastic for both sleep quality and quantity,” she explains. “Fresh fruit and veg, whole grains, lean proteins, loads of lemon juice and olive oil help regulate sleep hormones like melatonin and serotonin. Lack of sugars and processed food help stabilise blood sugar levels, preventing night-time wake-ups. Plus, it’s naturally anti-inflammatory, promoting overall health and better rest.

“The climate’s also perfect for being outside,” she adds. “That active, outdoor lifestyle sans screens is exactly what kids need to send them straight to sleep at night.

“And the biggest advantage of all in my eyes,” says Tammy, “is the yiayia network – the thousands of grandmothers who step in to help with the kids!”

Cyprus, then, has a host of natural sleep-promoting benefits. We’re very fortunate.

But there’s change in the air. And that means we still might need Tammy’s services…

Screen time, childhood obesity and inactivity are on the rise in Cyprus, and not every child may be getting quite the sleep they need. And that often means parents aren’t, either.

“Sleep isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity,” Tammy concludes. “The research says we don’t return to a full seven hours per night until we’re into our 60s. But why wait decades to prioritise rest? Sleep is the foundation for everything: when kids sleep well, parents sleep well. And the whole family thrives.”

For more information, visit thesleepgoddess.co or the Instagram account @thesleepgoddess