Americans feel no amount of sleep can help them feel focused throughout the day

Three in five Americans feel more tired now than they’ve ever been in their lives, according to new research.

In a study of 2,000 respondents, 59% said that spending so much time at home since early 2020 has permanently sapped them of their energy.

Fifty-eight percent confessed to feeling disjointed and unfocused, and catching a few Zzzs doesn’t appear to be a viable solution— over half (55%) think no amount of sleep can help them feel focused during the day.

The survey, which was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Monster Energy, found the most common energy-depleting activity to be poor sleep scheduling, according to 56% of respondents.

Half also blamed long work hours (53%) or being stuck inside (52%) when there were lockdowns as the reason for their perpetual exhaustion.

Forty-six percent said their exhaustion is due to too much screen time, while 41% blamed the lack of routine in their lives during the worst of the pandemic.

And according to respondents who’ve been working from home (34%), many of the activities they used to keep their energy levels up are no longer possible.

Nearly seven in ten (69%) even claim that working from home has messed with their sleep schedule.

When those surveyed begin to feel that dreaded energy dip — at around 1:04 pm, on average — 64% of them will reach for drinks that contain caffeine to provide them a boost for added focus and productivity.

“Working from home has become the ‘new normal’ for many of us,” said a spokesperson for Monster Energy. “It seems like just about everyone we talk to is feeling a little tired and unfocused while they’ve been working from home."

Video conferences have also contributed to the energy drain — three in five respondents find them to be even more exhausting than in-person meetings.

Many seem to miss the energy boost from physically being in the office; nearly one in two (49%) said spontaneous conversations with coworkers really helped to keep them upbeat and alert.

Results from a supporting survey of 2,005 Americans showed that while many respondents credited caffeine with being an energy booster, fewer know about the positive effects of taurine.

Only 37% identified taurine as a key ingredient in energy drinks, compared to 81% who said the same of caffeine.

And 35% thought that the natural ingredient is actually synthetically produced, while a third admitted they know nothing about it at all.

However, only 14% correctly identified it as an amino acid, with 35% erroneously listing it as a stimulant instead.

TOP 10 REASONS FOR EXHAUSTION

Poor sleep schedule - 56%
Long work hours - 53%
Being stuck inside - 52%
Too much screen time - 46%
No change in scenery - 42%
No pre-COVID-19 routine - 41%
Current events - 39%
No breaks - 36%
Lack of alone time - 33%
My children - 31%

TOP FIVE ENERGY-BOOSTERS AT WORK

Spontaneous conversations with coworkers - 49%
Getting up and walking around the office - 45%
Change of scenery during the day - 42%
Leaving my desk to get coffee or lunch - 33%
Structured routine (working 9-5, etc.) - 33%