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How valuable is sleep to you? New research revealed that the average American would happily shell out $290 every night – that’s more than $105,000 per year – if it meant a “perfect night” of sleep.
The fascinating statistic emerged in a new study that found that when it comes to getting good sleep, Americans will break the bank.
The new survey of 3,000 Americans, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Mattress Firm, aimed to uncover the most popular sleep habits of 2018 and also found that our sleeping positions may impact how well we sleep.
Though most respondents said they fall asleep on their side (37 percent), the people who actually reported to have the best quality of sleep were those who sleep on their back.
And if you have a pet, you might try letting your them curl up on the bed with you, because people who frequently sleep cuddled up with their furry friend said they slept much better in 2018 than those who don’t.
So how well did we sleep in 2018 overall? According to the results, Americans are far from getting the recommended eight hours of sleep per night. The average American surveyed got six hours and 17 minutes of sleep a night, with 106 “perfect” nights of sleep and 99 terrible nights of sleep, which equates to almost 30 percent of the year.
We also attempted to nap 107 times throughout the year, but only successfully napped 93 times.
How one falls asleep is a personal preference that varies greatly from person to person. For one in three Americans (32 percent), they need to have the TV on in order to drift off.
The average American also spends 15 solid minutes on their phone in bed before finally turning in.
The study also found that, amazingly, one in four Americans (26 percent) still actually count sheep in order to doze off for the night.
“Bedtime routines and habits can make or break the quality of sleep you get each night, and how we sleep has a direct impact on how well we function every day,” said Sunni Goodman, Mattress Firm’s VP of Communications & Customer Experience “If we’re not well-rested, we can’t perform our best. Looking at these statistics for the year, and as a company obsessed with beds and sleep, we hope Americans will resolve to sleep more and improve their quality of sleep in 2019.”
Pre-bed rituals help us relax after a long day, and many Americans find themselves sticking to a routine before hitting the hay.
Reading a book was the most popular pre-bed ritual, with 42 percent saying they like to read before putting themselves to bed. Taking a warm bath or shower (41 percent) and putting on a specific movie or TV show (40 percent) rounded out the top three.
But is there a “secret” to getting to sleep? The survey went on to ask and found that many people have their own theories.
Those “secrets” include everything from meditating for 10 minutes beforehand and eating a bowl of kiwi to just simply having a good mattress.
“We’re all looking for ways to get a good night’s sleep,” continued Goodman “While there are infinite tips and tricks to help us fall asleep faster or wake feeling refreshed, quality sleep starts with a good mattress. Small adjustments ultimately won’t make a big difference in the long-term if you’re not sleeping on the right mattress, which is why we’re obsessed with helping people find the best bed at the best value. Even though respondents put a big price tag on a perfect night of sleep, you don’t have to break the bank to get it. In 2019, we challenge everyone who needs a better night’s sleep to consider what you’re sleeping on and find the best bed for you.”
2018 SLEEP IN REVIEW
Overall very good… 36%
Overall somewhat good… 39%
Overall not very good… 21%
Overall not good at all… 4%
Average amount of sleep a night… 6 hours and 17 minutes
Number of perfect nights of sleep… 106
Number of terrible nights of sleep… 99
Number of naps taken… 9
Number of times tried to nap but failed… 79
DOES SLEEPING WITH PET YIELDS BETTER QUALITY SLEEP?
| Overall 2018 sleep quality | Frequently sleeps with pet | Sometimes sleeps with pet | Never sleeps with pet | Doesn’t own a pet |
| Very good | 47% | 36% | 33% | 28% |
| Somewhat good | 29% | 46% | 41% | 40% |
| Not very good | 20% | 17% | 22% | 25% |
| Not good at all | 5% | 2% | 5% | 7% |
10 “SECRETS” TO A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP
1. Eat a good meal, take a shower and read a good book.
2. A good mattress.
3. A nice cool room where it is not hot at all. Blankets rolled up to elevate my legs and a fan blowing loudly to drown out any sound from in the house or from outside.
4. Drink milk and eat kiwi before bed.
5. Count the number of breaths you take.
6. Lavender in a diffuser.
7. Listen to the radio or podcast.
8. Meditate a minimum of 10 minutes.
9. Not have anything with sugar at least 4 hours before going to sleep.
10. Watch TV.
