Millions of English soccer enthusiasts are gearing up to skip work on Monday following England’s thrilling match against Mexico. Thomas Tuchel’s team secured a spot in the final 16 with a dramatic double by Harry Kane against DR Congo in Atlanta. While the previous match kicked off at a convenient 5pm UK time, the upcoming clash is set for 1am, with around 70% of Britons planning to stay up late to watch, as revealed by a study conducted by tech company Honor.
Despite the late start, fans are undeterred and willing to go to great lengths to catch every exciting moment, with 6.4% of employees considering calling in sick. This could potentially lead to 2.2 million people feigning illness on Monday morning out of the 34.4 million-strong UK workforce.
For those opting not to take a sick day, getting adequate rest post-match poses a challenge. More than half of fans admit to struggling to fall asleep after a game, with the average supporter lying awake for nearly 40 minutes. To aid in achieving a restful night’s sleep, Honor has teamed up with Dr. Sophie Bostock, known as The Sleep Scientist, to introduce the Fan Cool Down, a scientifically backed five-step routine that helps fans transition from an adrenaline-filled state to sleep in just about 10 minutes.
Dr. Bostock highlighted that watching a tense late-night football game can have significant physiological effects on the body, with adrenaline spikes and heightened heart rates disrupting sleep. She emphasized the importance of a deliberate cool down process to aid in recovery and prevent fans from lying awake replaying the match.
The study also found that less than a quarter of employers offer flexible working arrangements to accommodate late games, leaving many fans to head to work the day after without sufficient rest if they haven’t taken time off. Danny Holden, UK PR manager at Honor, expressed concern over the impact of late-night matches on sleep patterns and work productivity, noting the lack of strategies beyond consuming extra coffee or resorting to absenteeism.
To support fans in managing their post-match stress and facilitating better sleep, Honor has introduced the Honor Watch 6, equipped with advanced features like extended battery life, heart-rate monitoring, and a ‘professional football mode.’ Available in Twilight Brown and Shadow Black at a limited-time discounted price of £169.99, the smartwatch aims to assist fans in tracking their transition from match-day excitement to restful sleep.