WE all have a bedtime routine, but how much of that has changed over the past several months?

A survey of 2,000 UK residents, conducted on behalf of The Body Shop, highlighted how our sex lives have been impacted due to changed sleeping habits.

During lockdown, those surveyed have seen an average 68% increase in vivid dreams; a comparison made between now and three months earlier.

However, all this vivid dreaming is not negative. 30% of those surveyed claimed their vivid dreams have a positive sentiment, while only 15% stated these dreams were of a negative theme.

Yet we are dreaming less about sex as well as having less sex since lockdown.

The survey revealed that just over a fifth of people are having abstract and creative dreams, and around 16% are experiencing anxiety-induced dreams.

Dreaming about family (16%), love (15%) and sex (15%) is slightly less common across the UK.

When it came to winding down before bed - only 11% of the surveyed have sex before sleeping.

Intimate relations may be down due to the increased anxiety around the current climate.

According to the NHS, loss of libido, can be linked to stress and tiredness and well as relationship issues.

The Body Shop survey highlighted that anxiety, stress and uncertainty is keeping up on average, 38% of the UK population; which would show the link for loss of the UK’s sex drive.

Studies have shown that the UK sex drive is at a low:

• A survey of 868 British adults from Anglia Ruskin University and Ulster University found that only 39.9% had taken part in any form of sexual activity in the previous seven days in lockdown.

• The Kinsey Institute has been quick to gather data on sexual behaviour throughout the Covid-19 crisis.

Although the research is ongoing, preliminary findings show that “sexual activity, frequency, and risky behaviours declined significantly among young men and women”

• A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found similar patterns in the UK.

Of the 868 respondents, 60 per cent were not engaging in regular sexual activity during the lockdown.

For those who are locked down by themselves, this makes sense. But even people who live together, and have an active sex life, are now having far less ‘gatherings’ than usual.

The reason for this is still unclear, but the emerging research suggests stress and anxiety have played a major part.

Not only has lockdown been extraordinarily stressful, but couples have also been cooped up together 24/7.

The survey also revealed that on average, Brits are losing one hour of sleep a night compared to three months ago, the equivalent of 53.5 million hours a night across the nation.

Interestingly, the research also shows that over a quarter of the UK (26%) are going to bed at 12 am or later, whereas three months ago the majority (22%) were going to bed between 10.01-11pm, which would explain why the UK is feeling tired.