Essay 174 – People today get less sleep than in the past

GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 174

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

People today get less sleep than in the past.
What is the cause of this?
What are the possible effects of this development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.


Model Answer:

Undeniably people nowadays sleep less than at any time in the past. This essay will delve deep into the phenomenon to shed light on the root cause, and then explore the potential consequences of this aspect.

To commence with, the reasons behind the sleep decline are myriad. One of the compelling reasons is technological advances. Unprecedented advances in technology have led to a surge in screen time with laptops, smartphones, tablets, and television. And using phones and laptops for social networking, watching videos and playing interactive games activate and excite our brain, causing it tough to fall asleep. National Sleep Foundation’s latest poll, for instance, has found that individuals who browsed social networking sites in the hour before bed were less likely to report getting a sound sleep. Another factor, which is as important as technological advancement, is the economic stress. This means that it is hard to fall asleep when people are stressed financially. For example, plenty of studies have found that sleep deprivation has been associated with economic stress.

However, sleep disorders have a ripple effect through the health, productivity and economy. The issues caused by sleep deprivation go beyond tiredness. Sleep shortage lowers the body’s resistance to diseases and thereby succumbing to many diseases. For instance, lately, many studies have revealed that people who got less sleep were more likely to report five chronic health issues, including diabetes, obesity, tiredness, depression, and asthma, compared to those who got adequate sleep. Aside from health problems, sleep deprivation decreases labour productivity and can cause fatal accidents. A case in point is the chemical plant disaster in Bhopal, India, which has been attributed by many to sleep deprivation. Finally, low productivity can stagnate the economy consequently.

In conclusion, the reasons why people are not getting adequate sleep could vary, but cutting-edge gadgets and financial stress are the most common causes of this phenomenon. Sleep deprivation, however, has a domino effect in personal and professional life which could even affect society and national economy.

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