wellness
Why people are sleeping worse and what to do about it
Gold Coast adults report shorter rest periods amid screen habits and irregular schedules, with local routines offering clear fixes.
How we reported this
Surveys from the Gold Coast Health and Hospital Service show 58 percent of local adults now average under six hours of sleep on weeknights, down from 7.1 hours recorded in 2021.
The shift tracks rising device use after dark and work patterns that stretch into evenings for those in tourism and hospitality roles along the coast. A 2025 national sleep audit found similar drops in Queensland coastal areas where late shifts and social media scrolling extend past midnight.
Local routines add to the strain
Residents near Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach describe how beach volleyball sessions at Kurrawa Beach often run until 9 pm followed by quick checks of wellness feeds that keep phones in hand until later. Hinterland Lamington hiking groups that meet at dawn on weekends also push some participants to cut evening wind-down time short to prepare gear or review trail apps.
Surf Life Saving clubs along the strip report members juggling early patrols with family demands that leave little buffer for consistent bedtimes. These patterns compound when combined with the area’s year-round visitor traffic that fills streets late into the night.
Evidence points to practical steps
A 2024 University of Queensland study tracked 420 coastal workers and found those who limited screens after 9 pm gained an average 42 minutes of sleep within four weeks. Local programs at the Gold Coast Recreation Centre offer 6 pm yoga classes priced at $18 that end by 7 pm, giving participants time to dim lights and avoid further stimulation.
Wellness influencers based in Mermaid Beach have begun posting fixed 10 pm device curfews that align with advice from the Australian Sleep Health Foundation. Residents who replaced late scrolling with short evening walks along The Esplanade report steadier morning energy after two weeks. The next step involves testing one change, such as setting a phone alarm for 9:30 pm shutdown, then tracking rest for seven days before adding another adjustment like a fixed wake time.