Millions of English soccer enthusiasts are gearing up to take a day off on Monday following England’s late-night match against Mexico. Thomas Tuchel’s team advanced to the final 16 after Harry Kane’s last-minute double against DR Congo in Atlanta. While the previous game started at a convenient 5 pm UK time, Monday’s match commences at 1 am, with approximately 70% of Britons planning to stay up late to watch, as revealed by recent research conducted by tech company Honor.
Despite the late kickoff times, fans are undeterred and willing to go to great lengths to witness every thrilling moment of the tournament, with 6.4% of workers considering calling in sick. This percentage translates to 2.2 million individuals out of the UK’s workforce of 34.4 million feigning illness on Monday morning.
For those not opting to take a sick day, getting adequate rest may prove challenging. More than half of fans admit to struggling to sleep after a match, with the average supporter lying awake for nearly 40 minutes. To aid in achieving a good night’s rest, Honor has teamed up with Dr. Sophie Bostock, also known as The Sleep Scientist, to introduce the Fan Cool Down. This scientifically-backed five-step routine helps fans transition from an excited state to falling asleep in about 10 minutes.
According to Dr. Bostock, the physiological impact of watching a tense late-night football match is often underestimated. She emphasized that passionate fans experience heightened adrenaline, increased heart rate, and a readiness for action similar to being on the field. Without a deliberate cool down, fans may find themselves replaying the match mentally instead of recovering. The Fan Cool Down aims to support the body’s natural recovery process, mirroring the post-match cool down that players undergo.
Furthermore, research indicates that less than a quarter of employers offer flexible working arrangements to accommodate late game schedules. Half of Britons expect to attend work after a late-night match if they haven’t taken time off. Danny Holden, UK PR manager at Honor, highlighted the impact of the summer football season on sleep patterns and work productivity, urging for better strategies beyond relying on additional coffee or feigning illness.
To assist fans nationwide in transitioning from match-day excitement to restful sleep, Honor offers the Honor Watch 6, featuring a long-lasting battery life, smart heart-rate monitoring, and a ‘professional football mode’ for enthusiasts inspired to engage in physical activities. The watch is currently available in Twilight Brown and Shadow Black at a special price of £169.99 (RRP £249.99).
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