Sleep is having a moment. Whether we’re talking about how to get more or just better quality sleep, conversations about snoozing are increasing. And now there’s a new topic slipping into the sleep chatter – magnesium. 

Magnesium is fronting as a sleep aid, and we’re curious. Will taking magnesium for sleep help you slide into dreamland faster or keep you there longer? These are the burning questions circling the sleep convos – and we’re taking a closer look to find out what all the fuss is about – and if science is backing any possible connection between magnesium and sleep quality.  

What is magnesium? 

Let’s begin with the basics. Magnesium is a nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. It is essential for many processes in the body, including regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and making protein, bone, and DNA.

Magnesium is found naturally in many foods as well as added to some fortified foods. You will likely get the recommended amounts of magnesium by including the following foods in a balanced diet:

• Legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables (such as spinach)
• Fortified breakfast cereals and other fortified foods
• Milk, yogurt, and some other milk products
• Bananas

Overall, magnesium deficiencies are pretty rare in healthy people. However, you may be at risk of a deficiency if you are an older adult, have type 2 diabetes, have a gastrointestinal order, or have an alcohol use disorder.1

How are magnesium and sleep linked?

So far, the studies scientifically linking magnesium and better sleep are too thin to provide a conclusive medical answer. However, here’s what we do know about magnesium intake and the body. On a chemical level, magnesium aids in relaxation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system2 – which is the system responsible for getting you calm and relaxed. 

Additionally, magnesium also regulates the hormone melatonin, which guides sleep-wake cycles in your body.3 It also binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. GABA is the neurotransmitter responsible for quieting down nerve activity4, which is why sleep drugs like Ambien use it.

So, by helping to quiet the nervous system, magnesium can help prepare your body and mind for sleep.

Where’s the research?

Although a few studies have shown that magnesium could help with falling asleep in addition to helping achieve deep and restful sleep, the research is pretty limited.

For example, a double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 46 elderly subjects. In this trial, the subjects were randomly allocated into the magnesium or the placebo group and received 500 mg magnesium or placebo daily for eight weeks. Overall, the magnesium group achieved better quality sleep. The same group also exhibited higher levels of renin and melatonin, two hormones that help regulate sleep.5

However, experts in the field of sleep are quick to point out that the current research is pretty scarce and has only really studied magnesium supplements among older adults with insomnia. Hence, it’s not clear whether other age groups would also benefit. 

“Overall, the evidence for magnesium is thin, but some people have found it helps them,” explains integrative medicine specialist Naoki Umeda, MD.

Any dosage requirements?

Since very few studies have directly tested the effect of magnesium supplements on insomnia, it’s difficult to recommend specific amounts. However, the best place to start is with the correct form of magnesium, which is magnesium glycinate or magnesium citrate. Magnesium oxide, on the other hand, is a stool softener, which can help you in the bathroom, not the bedroom.

According to the National Institutes of Health’s Office on Dietary Supplements, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for magnesium when used for sleep or general health is 200 – 310 milligrams a day. However, since Magnesium is not “officially” classified as a sleep aid, there’s no recommended time for taking it before bed. 

Nicole Avena, PhD, assistant professor of neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and visiting professor of health psychology at Princeton University, explains that taking magnesium isn’t going to knock you out. However, she continues, “it can help to calm and relax you if taken one hour or so before you settle in for the evening.” 

What about calcium and magnesium?

Magnesium has been linked with calcium in a number of ways, including discussions around the benefits of taking calcium and magnesium together. Again, curiosity piqued – what’s the correlation?

Here’s what we found – calcium and magnesium play an interdependent role in the body. Magnesium is needed for the body to absorb calcium properly, and studies show it even helps dissolve calcium in the blood, deterring the formation of kidney stones.  However, when calcium levels are too high and magnesium too low, the body produces excess cortisol, sometimes called the stress hormone, which can interfere with sleep.

Therefore, an adequate supply of each can help the body regulate hormones like melatonin and cortisol, which can influence your sleep. The ideal ratio of calcium to magnesium is usually 2:1 but can vary depending on many factors, including your age and your current health status.6. Always ask your doctor before beginning any new supplements or combination of supplements.

Anything Else?

Magnesium supplements could potentially interfere with some medications, like antibiotics, muscle relaxants, and blood pressure medications.  

Additionally, magnesium is easily obtained when consuming whole foods and water as part of a healthy, balanced diet. The Institute of Medicine suggests a daily dietary intake of 310–360 mg of magnesium for adult women and 400–420 mg for adult men6. So a supplement isn’t necessary if you get the daily recommended amount from your diet. 

Furthermore, experts warn that high doses of magnesium supplements can have potential health hazards. Consuming too much magnesium from dietary supplements or medications that contain magnesium, such as laxatives and antacids, can cause minor reactions like diarrhea or vomiting – and in some cases, extreme health problems, like irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrest. 

In sum, magnesium is not officially classified as a sleep aid, and the available research – so far – doesn’t provide enough concrete evidence to support sleep aid claims in groups outside the elderly who suffer from insomnia. So, before trying magnesium for sleep, we recommend addressing your sleep habits first. Also, essential to consult your healthcare provider before adding any new supplement to your routine.

Are you looking for more need-to-know information about getting better sleep? We’ve got answers to your burning questions about sleep, plus plenty of helpful resources, tips, and tricks to help you find better zzz’s today!

1 https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/

2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27933574/

3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12030424/

4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18799816/

5 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23853635/

6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3883082/

7 https://www.newsweek.com/best-time-take-magnesium-supplements-sleep-anxiety-1686365

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A new wave of the coronavirus seems to be creating major ripples in people’s lives – affecting their concerns, behaviors and shopping habits, according to the Q4 2021 “Inside the Mind of Today’s Mattress Consumer” survey by the Better Sleep Council. The research suggests that people are partially retreating into their homes – increasing their prioritization of optimizing them for comfort and efficiency. The study found that mattress purchase intent, specifically, is also rising as people continue to make getting a good night’s sleep their No. 1 health and wellness priority.

Preference for shopping and buying mattresses online rose in the fourth quarter, edging ahead of in-person mattress shopping, compared with the previous quarter. Despite recent increases in people’s overall concerns and preferences for not going out, consumers remain significantly more confident about going to the doctor, shopping/purchasing in-store, and traveling/patronizing a public establishment than they were a year ago at this time.

More details about what mattress shoppers are thinking, feeling and doing can be found in the full report here: BSC Tracker Results: Q4 2021.

In Q3 of 2021, Americans experienced a major COVID-19 resurgence – through the number of cases, in people’s news feeds and in consumers’ concerns and behaviors. According to the Better Sleep Council’s Q3 2021 Tracker, people are reverting toward some attitudes and behaviors exhibited earlier in the pandemic. This comes after seeing some relaxation of COVID-19 concerns and shopping behaviors earlier in 2021. In these third-quarter results, consumers are showing revived concerns about COVID-19 and the overall environment they live in. Confidence in travel and in brick-and-mortar shopping and purchasing has declined in this quarter, as opposed to the previous quarter, and preference for online shopping and purchasing remains strong.

Not surprisingly then, many people – almost two-thirds of those surveyed – said the current environment is affecting their sleep. Interestingly, more people are reporting their sleep as “good” and “very good”– perhaps reflecting the impact of strong mattress purchasing over the past 18 months and the fact that sleep remains their most important health priority.

People are cocooning again, spending much more attention and dollars on optimizing their homes for work, education and living. Bedroom products/sleep accessories purchases are still the No. 1 actual and planned purchases, and purchase intent for mattresses rose slightly. This suggests demand will continue. Brick-and-mortar purchases of mattresses surpassed online purchases for the first time since the BSC tracker began monitoring people’s shopping behaviors in 2020. All of this suggests that sleep will remain a high priority for consumers, and that demand for mattresses is unlikely to dip significantly. It also suggests retailers and manufacturers with effective digital and eCommerce programs will compete more effectively than others.

More details about what mattress shoppers are thinking, feeling and doing can be found in the full report here: BSC Tracker Results Q3 2021.

• Overall, our assessment found that more than one in five working adults take a nap during the workday (this measure includes naps taken during and outside of work breaks).
• Napping during the workday is driven by people working from home or in hybrid situations (i.e., Americans who work in a flexible environment that include both an office setting and a remote location), who are two times more likely to take naps during the workday than their in-office counterparts.
• Napping is more common among younger working adults. Generation Z are 3.4 times and Millennials are 2.5 times more likely to take naps during the workday than Boomers.
• Regardless of how long they take or where they are taken, naps are restorative! Eighty-seven percent of those who nap during the workday say naps are “refreshing.” They are particularly restorative for parents with children at home, who are 1.6 times more likely to say naps are “very” refreshing compared to working adults with no children at home.

The research consisted of an online survey, representative of working adults 18 and older within the United States. It was administered between July 23 and July 26, 2021, among a sample of 800 respondents. The sample size provides 95% confidence + 3.5%.

OVERALL FINDINGS

Over one in five (22%) working adults take naps during the workday (including during breaks).

Q2 – Which of the following have you done during the workday (including during breaks) in the past month? (Check all that apply.)

On average, working Americans take half-hour naps (the average is 29 minutes). But there are exceptions: nearly one in 10 nappers take at least one hour-long nap during the workday.

Q5 – Approximately how long is your typical nap? 

Regardless of how long naps last, nearly all are restorative. Eighty-seven percent of those who nap during the workday find naps refreshing. Naps are most refreshing to people with children at home.

Q4 – How refreshed did you feel after napping?

Most naps taken during the workday are taken in bed (53%) or on a sofa (41%). Yet nearly one-quarter of Americans napping during the workday sleep in a chair or in their car (or truck). Sleeping at a desk, on the floor or anywhere they can are less common, but something one in 10 working Americans do.

Q3 – Where did you nap? (Check all that apply.)

WHO IS more likely to take a nap during the workday?

Q2 – Which of the following have you done during the workday (including during breaks) in the past month? (Check all that apply.)

Not surprisingly, people working from home or in hybrid situations are twice as likely to nap during the workday than those working in an office setting. (Respectively, 2.4 times among people working at home and 2.2 times among people working hybrid.)

Younger generations are more likely to take a nap during the workday than older cohorts. Gen Z and Millennials are respectively 3.4 times and 2.5 times more likely to take naps during the workday than Boomers.

Workers with lower income are also more likely to nap during the workday. Workers with a yearly household income under $50,000 are 1.6 times more likely to nap during this time than those earning $100,000 or more.

Survey Details: Better Sleep Council August 2021

[1] An alphabetical code letter has been assigned to groups (e.g., A, B, C, etc.) throughout this report. If a percentage within one group is significantly greater than a corresponding percentage in a second group, then the code letter from the second group appears next to the percentage in the first group.

A lot has changed since the Better Sleep Council launched its Inside the Mind of Today’s Mattress Consumer tracking study back in 2020. As COVID-19 concerns and restrictions continue to relax, the Q2 2021 study found that people are showing signs of returning to some pre-pandemic attitudes and behaviors. At the same time, other lockdown behaviors appear to be sticking around for now.

For example, people are more willing to shop and buy in-person, although people say they’re still more comfortable shopping online. Interest in buying trusted brands, buying brands that align with the shopper’s values, and shopping local have all made a significant comeback for bedroom product consumers. They also are more willing to try new brands and new retailers than they were earlier this year.

As expected, people’s lockdown obsession with optimizing the function and comfort of their homes has leveled off. This may be due to the fact that they are spending less time at home as people return to in-person shopping, school, work, etc.

The easing of concerns and restrictions and the return to some pre-pandemic activities may have also resulted in people starting to sleep better. The number of people who report they are sleeping poorly declined from the previous study, with more people describing their sleep as “good.” However, there’s still a large minority of people who describe their sleep as “OK” or worse. So, it’s not surprising that good sleep remains consumers’ number one priority – although for the first time since tracking began, their relationships with other people assumed equal importance. And more people say they are focused on improving their overall sleep environment in this quarter, expanding a trend initially seen earlier.

Although people say they are less anxious or concerned about their families’ health and well-being than they were earlier this year, health remains their top priority.

More details about what mattress shoppers are thinking, feeling and doing can be found in the full report here: BSC Quarterly Tracker Results: Q2 2021.

Go here to check out BSC’s Q1 2021 research to see changes in attitudes and behaviors quarter-over-quarter.

Does it feel like you’re the only one lying awake at night? Trust us, you’re not. In fact, the Better Sleep Council’s 2021 State of America’s Sleep study finds a growing percentage of Americans are battling poor sleep. Yet more people than ever report sleeping great too. It seems there’s no in-between when it comes to sleep. And the reasons you’re not getting your zzz’s can be as obvious as they are complex.

For the third year in a row, we surveyed 2,000 Americans to gauge sleep quality and monitor sleep trends. And like so many things in 2020, when this study was fielded, sleep was more polarized than ever.

“The percentage of people we classify as poor sleepers has gone up 6% since our first study in 2019,” says Mary Helen Rogers, vice president of marketing and communications. “At the same time, the number of excellent sleepers has also risen, up 2% in the same time period. There’s hardly anyone in the middle anymore.”

The Great COVID-19 Pandemic Wedge

No surprise here, but the COVID-19 pandemic has played a big role in pushing us to sleep extremes. Both direct and indirect effects of the pandemic appear to have a bearing on who’s getting restful sleep and who’s struggling as of late.

• Poor sleepers were 3 times more likely than excellent sleepers to have been diagnosed with a medical condition in the last 12 months. They were nearly twice as likely (17% versus 10% respectively) to have lost a loved one in that time too. While we can’t draw a direct connection to the COVID-19 pandemic in either case, the sheer numbers of widespread illness and death suggest that the disease contributed to lack of sleep and sleepless nights for many.
• Excellent sleepers were able to save for college (70%) and home expenses (63%) in the last year. And more than one-third (37%) feel good about the economy. It’s likely that these folks held on to their jobs throughout the lockdowns, felt secure about their financial standing, and may have used stimulus payments as windfalls for their nest eggs.
• On the other side of the mattress, two out of five poor sleepers say their financial situation has worsened in the last year. Almost half (48%) feel like their mental/emotional health has suffered during the pandemic as well. Income pressures and isolation were daily stressors (in turn, sleep blockers) for many throughout 2020.

Better Sleep Starts with Better Habits

Many factors that impact our sleep are beyond our control. But our study finds a number of personal lifestyle choices may define our status as an excellent or poor sleeper too.

• Three-quarters (74%) of excellent sleepers regularly exercise, with nearly one-third (32%) increasing their activity in the last year. On top of that, excellent sleepers are 7 times more likely than poor sleepers to say they enjoy exercise. So, try putting on a smile with your yoga pants if you want to sleep better.
• Poor sleepers report significant increases in screen time (42%) and alcohol consumption (22%) in the past year. And as we know, blue light and booze are not good for sleep.

“In addition to practicing good sleep hygiene, I encourage people to assess their mattress situation,” says Rogers. “Consciously putting good sleep habits into practice won’t do much good if you retire to a lumpy or sagging mattress from the ‘90s.”

Which Side Are You On?

Think you’re an excellent sleeper? Or is sleep just a nightmare for you? See how your experience stacks up with the rest of the nation. Dive into the full results of our 2021 State of America’s Sleep study:

• Learn if people in cities or in the country tend to sleep better.
• Find out if a Boomer sleeps more soundly than a Millennial.
• See who’s more likely to use noise machines at night.
• Discover how much an excellent sleeper earns per year versus a poor sleeper.
• Read up on these and dozens of other sleep traits – good and bad.

This blog provides general information about sleep and sleep products. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional. This blog should not be construed as medical advice or used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other healthcare professional. This blog is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not be relied upon to make decisions about your health or the health of others. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog or elsewhere on bettersleep.org. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.

To give the industry insight into shifting consumer attitudes and behaviors in today’s environment, the Better Sleep Council has set about to conduct a quarterly national survey of mattress buyers.

The first quarter of 2021 (the second installment of the research) has seen some changes and some consistencies in how people are sleeping, how they are shopping and what they’re buying for their homes.

This installment of the Better Sleep Council’s quarterly tracker found:

• Respondents still say that a good night’s sleep is more important than diet, exercise and even relationships when it comes to their health.
• Almost half of respondents still aren’t getting a good night’s sleep – many of those who are credit their mattress and sleep environment for the quality of their sleep.
• In Q1 2021, mattresses became a lower priority for people’s purchases, falling from 5^th most important to 8^th – although the larger bedroom products category remains a priority for home product purchases.
• While online mattress shopping remains strong, people who are shopping for mattresses are starting to return to in-person shopping as they become more confident about going out to public spaces.
• Slightly more people are shopping locally, while interest in new retailers and new brands fell in the first quarter of the year.

More details about what mattress shoppers are thinking, feeling and doing can be found in the full report here: BSC Tracker Results: Q1 2021 .

Go here to see the first installment of the BSC’s quarterly research.

Background

In 2019, the BSC launched The State of America’s Sleep, a benchmark survey (Wave 1 [W1]) with the goal of measuring the quality of sleep in the United States Year over Year (YoY). In 2020, year two, the BSC fielded the research prior to the pandemic (W2) and deployed additional research in the early days of the pandemic to understand its initial impact. This current study (W3) analyzes not only current sleep findings, but also trends that are beginning to emerge.

Methodological overview

2,000 surveys were fielded between March 5-12, 2021, among a representative sample of U.S. adults (age 18+), using a questionnaire lasting approximately 15 minutes. Sample size provides a confidence interval of ±2.19% at 95%.

Respondent Profile

SLEEP INDEX

Analysis was conducted to establish a Sleep Index (SI) that could be used to track America’s sleep quality over time. The SI is calculated using the following questions:

Q2. On average, how would you describe your sleep within the past two weeks?

Q7. Within the past two weeks, how often have you felt the following when you wake up in the morning?

The multiplicative index was scaled so the average score is 100. The index was used to create three groups, as depicted below, for analysis purposes.

The sleeping divide  

The “Divided States of America” has become a paradigm for the political, social, economic and health experiences of people. This wave of The State of America’s Sleep shows that this divide now characterizes how Americans are sleeping. The research shows for the first time a dramatic dichotomy in how America is sleeping – with far more people reporting they’re sleeping poorly or sleeping excellently, and few people with average sleep quality. This divided sleep experience has been exacerbated by the direct and indirect effects of the ongoing pandemic and its economic fallout.

The sleeping divide – who are the poor and excellent sleepers?

Beyond just the profound divide in how people are sleeping, the research shows other differences across America that correlate to sleep quality. For example, you will find more excellent sleepers in urban areas. They are more likely to be older and have a higher education. Their outlook is more positive, and they are more likely to feel good about the economy, think the country is moving in the right direction and be confident in the current administration.

You will find more poor sleepers in rural areas. They are more likely younger and will have less education. Their outlook is not as positive, and they are more likely to not feel good about the economy, not think the country is moving in the right direction and not be confident in the current administration.

How has COVID-19 exacerbated that divide?

COVID-19 has affected poor sleepers even more: They are experiencing physical and emotional pain, as well as a decline in mental health – almost half (48%) say their mental health has declined in the past year. We know poor sleepers have more stress, but they are also more likely to say that being a parent is a significant source of stress for them.

As expected, poor sleepers struggle with sleep – they do not sleep enough, struggle to fall asleep, wake up frequently and cannot go back to sleep after waking up. Over two-thirds (70%) wake up tired, and over half (60%) say they rarely, if ever, wake up rested or refreshed. Although most people don’t use sleep-promoting medication or other tools to help them sleep, poor sleepers are more likely to do so than excellent sleepers.

Poor sleepers are more likely to have increased their screen time during the pandemic, as well as increased their alcohol consumption – both behaviors reflected in other research on the effects of the pandemic.

What can poor sleepers learn from excellent sleepers to close the divide?

Although the research shows the depth of America’s sleep quality divide, it also suggests things poor sleepers can learn from excellent sleepers that would improve their sleep quality. Excellent sleepers have been participating in a variety of activities and continue to do so. They are also trying new activities and sticking with them. Excellent sleepers are regularly exercising, and many have increased their exercise in the last year.

Excellent sleepers are financial savers and have even significantly increased their savings since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Key Takeaways

 A Nation Divided

• While both excellent and poor sleepers live in both rural and urban areas, poor sleepers are more likely to live in rural areas and excellent sleepers are more likely to live in urban areas
  • 38% of excellent sleepers live in urban areas (30% of poor sleepers)
  • 20% of poor sleepers live in rural areas (15% of excellent sleepers)
• Excellent sleepers are more likely to be older and poor sleepers are more likely to be younger
  • More than one-third (44%) of excellent sleepers are 55+, which is significantly higher than poor sleepers (31%)
  • More than one in four (27%) excellent sleepers are 65+, which is significantly higher than poor sleepers (16%)
  • More than one-third (36%) of excellent sleepers are Boomers, which is significantly higher than poor sleepers (27%)
  • While the Silent Generation represents a small percentage of excellent sleepers, Silents are roughly twice (1.6) as likely to be excellent than poor sleepers
• Excellent sleepers are more likely to have a higher education and poor sleepers are more likely to be less educated
  • Over half (55%) of excellent sleepers have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which is significantly higher than poor sleepers (40%)
  • Over half (60%) of poor sleepers have less than a bachelor’s degree, which is significantly higher than excellent sleepers (44%)
• Excellent sleepers are more likely to feel good about the economy, think the country is moving in the right direction and be confident in the current administration
  • More than one-third (37%) of excellent sleepers feel good about the economy, which is significantly higher than poor sleepers (23%)
    • Almost half (47%) of poor sleepers do not feel good about the economy, and that is significantly higher than excellent sleepers (34%)
  • Over half (53%) of excellent sleepers think the country is headed in the right direction, which is significantly higher than poor sleepers (39%)
    • The percentage of excellent sleepers who think the country is headed in the right direction has been increasing YoY and their agreement is significantly higher in 2021 than 2020 and 2019
    • More than one-third (36%) of poor sleepers do not think the country is headed in the right direction, and this is significantly higher than excellent sleepers (28%)
  • Over half (55%) of excellent sleepers are confident in the administration, which is significantly higher than poor sleepers (40%)
    • The percentage of excellent sleepers who are confident in the administration has been increasing YoY and their agreement is significantly higher in 2021 than 2020 and 2019
    • About one-third (35%) of poor sleepers are not confident in the administration, and this is significantly higher than excellent sleepers (28%)

What Has Been Affected By COVID?

• Poor sleepers are more likely than excellent sleepers to experience physical and emotional pain, as well as stress. They also are more likely to have experienced a decline in their mental health over the last year.
  • More than one-third (37%) of poor sleepers experience pain when sitting or standing and more than one in four (26%) experience pain when lying down, which is significantly higher than excellent sleepers (27%/12%)
  • Almost one in four (23%) poor sleepers have been diagnosed with a medical condition (e.g., anxiety, depression, cancer, etc.) in the last year, which is 2.3 times more likely than excellent sleepers (10%)
    • 17% of poor sleepers have experienced the loss of a loved one in the past year, which is significantly higher than excellent sleepers (10%)
  • Almost half (48%) of poor sleepers say their mental/emotional health has declined over the past year – which is 2.5 times more likely than excellent sleepers (19%)
  • Close to half (45%) of poor sleepers often or very often feel stress and are four times more likely than excellent sleepers (11%) to say they feel stress often or very often
    • Poor sleepers are also more likely to say that being a parent is a very significant source of stress, with more than two-thirds (40%) feeling this way – which is significantly higher than excellent sleepers (29%)
  • Poor sleepers struggle with sleep in a variety of ways and are more likely to use sleep-promoting medication or other tools to help them sleep
    • Over half (56%) of poor sleepers do not get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night – compared to less than one-third (31%) of excellent sleepers
    • Poor sleepers are more likely to take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep, wake up more often, and struggle going back to sleep after waking up
      • More than one-third (35%) of poor sleepers take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep (compared to 9% of excellent sleepers)
      • More than half (53%) of poor sleepers wake up often or frequently during the night (compared to 28% of excellent sleepers)
      • More than one-third (38%) of poor sleepers have trouble going back to sleep after waking up at night (compared to 9% of excellent sleepers)
    • Poor sleepers are more likely to wake up tired; stiff, in pain or sore; or not rested/refreshed
      • More than two-thirds (70%) of poor sleepers wake up tired (compared to 3% of excellent sleepers)
      • More than one-third (39%) of poor sleepers often or frequently wake up stiff, in pain or sore (compared to 9% of excellent sleepers)
      • More than half (60%) of poor sleepers rarely or never wake up rested/refreshed (compared to 1% of excellent sleepers)
    • Most sleepers do not use sleep-promoting medication or other things to help them sleep; however, poor sleepers are more likely to use them than excellent sleepers
      • Poor sleepers are more likely to often/frequently use sleep-promoting supplements or vitamins to help them sleep (16% of poor sleepers/9% of excellent sleepers)
      • Poor sleepers are more likely to often/frequently use sleep-promoting OTC or prescription medications to help them sleep (12% of poor sleepers/7% of excellent sleepers)
      • More than one in four poor sleepers (26%) regularly sleep with a pet (18% of excellent sleepers)
      • More than two-thirds (38%) of poor sleepers regularly sleep with a fan (27% of excellent sleepers)
      • 11% of poor sleepers regularly sleep with a sound machine/white noise/ phone app (6% of excellent sleepers)
    • Poor sleepers are more likely to have increased their screen time during the pandemic, as well as increased their alcohol consumption
      • More than two-thirds (42%) of poor sleepers have increased their screen time somewhat or a lot in the past year (30% of excellent sleepers)
        • Poor sleepers (14%) are more likely to say their total screen time has increased a lot in the past year (8% of excellent sleepers)
      • Alcohol consumption has increased somewhat or a lot in the past year for more than one in 10 (22%) poor sleepers (14% of excellent sleepers)
    • Poor sleepers struggle with finances and have lower incomes
      • More than one in 10 (21%) poor sleepers have an income under $25K
        • The average income for poor sleepers = $71K/excellent sleepers = $90K
      • More than one-third (36%) of poor sleepers say they typically do not buy what they want when they want it (22% of excellent sleepers)
      • Almost half (47%) of poor sleepers say they live paycheck to paycheck, which is significantly higher than excellent sleepers (33%)
      • Two in five poor sleepers (40%) say their financial situation has changed negatively as a result of COVID-19 – this is significantly higher than excellent sleepers (30%)
    • Poor sleepers have relationship issues and feel isolated
      • More than two-thirds (41%) of poor sleepers’ relationships have suffered (e.g., friends, family, extended family) in the past year (27% of excellent sleepers)
      • Almost one in five (19%) poor sleepers have a difficult relationship with their spouse/partner (8% of excellent sleepers)
      • More than one in five (22%) poor sleepers do not have deep, meaningful friendships with people outside their family (14% of excellent sleepers)
      • More than two-thirds (41%) of poor sleepers wish they had more friends (31% of excellent sleepers)
      • More than two-thirds (39%) of poor sleepers have difficult times in social situations (19% of excellent sleepers)
      • More than two-thirds (36%) of poor sleepers would love to go out but do not have anyone to go out with (21% of excellent sleepers)

What Are the Excellent Sleepers Doing?

• Excellent sleepers are exercising regularly, increasing their exercise and enjoying it – as well as participating in a variety of activities and continuing to do so
  • Almost three-quarters (74%) of excellent sleepers have been exercising for more than a year – and almost one in five (19%) of those excellent sleepers who exercise tried exercise in just this past year and continued to participate
    • More than one-fifth (22%) of poor sleepers say they tried exercising in the past year and then stopped
  • Over half (54%) of excellent sleepers have tried outdoor activities (e.g., hiking, bike riding, kayaking, etc.) in the past year and continue to participate, or have participated in these outdoor activities for more than a year (and still participate)
  • Excellent sleepers are more likely to have been participating in gardening, meditating and yoga for more than a year
    • Over half (52%) of excellent sleepers have been participating in gardening for more than a year – 16% of excellent sleepers tried gardening this year and continue to participate
      • More than two-thirds (41%) of poor sleepers have never participated in gardening or haven’t in several years
    • More than one-third (38%) of excellent sleepers have been practicing meditation and one in four (25%) has been practicing yoga for more than a year
  • Excellent sleepers are more likely to say they enjoy physical activities (completely agree that they enjoy the activity)
    • More than one-third (37%) of excellent sleepers completely agree that they enjoy exercising, which is almost two times (1.7) more likely than poor sleepers (22%)
    • About one-third (33%) of excellent sleepers completely agree that they enjoy participating in outdoor activities (e.g., hiking, bike riding, kayaking), which is 1.3 times more likely than poor sleepers (25%)
  • Excellent sleepers are more likely to say they have increased their exercise during the pandemic – almost one-third (32%) of excellent sleepers
    • Close to one-third (33%) of poor sleepers say they have exercised less during the pandemic
    • Poor sleepers are more likely to say they don’t engage in vigorous activity (e.g., running, tennis, aerobic dancing, spinning, CrossFit, etc.) or moderate activity (e.g., brisk walking, power yoga, water aerobics, etc.) at all
      • Over half (54%) don’t engage in vigorous activity
      • 30% don’t engage in moderate activity
    • Excellent sleepers are financial savers and have even increased their savings
    • Excellent sleepers are more likely to save money than poor sleepers
      • More than two-thirds (70%) of excellent sleepers save money to pay for their children’s college education (46% of poor sleepers)
      • Almost two-thirds (63%) of excellent sleepers save money for unforeseen home expenses (48% of poor sleepers)
      • Over half (58%) of excellent sleepers regularly save money, so they have enough for retirement (42% of poor sleepers)
      • Over half (54%) of excellent sleepers save money for unforeseen medical expenses (39% of poor sleepers)
      • Over half (54%) of excellent sleepers regularly save money for vacation (40% of poor sleepers)
    • Excellent sleepers have significantly increased their savings since pre-pandemic (2020)
      • More than two-thirds (70%) of excellent sleepers saved money for their children’s college education in 2021 (46% in 2020)
      • About two-thirds (63%) of excellent sleepers saved money for unforeseen home expenses (56% in 2020)
      • Over half (54%) of excellent sleepers saved money for vacation (48% in 2020)
      • Over half (54%) of excellent sleepers saved money for medical expenses (48% in 2020)
      • Over half (58%) of excellent sleepers saved money for retirement (49% in 2020)
      • More than one-third (40%) of excellent sleepers invested in the stock market (34% in 2020)

Survey Details: Better Sleep Council March 2021

There’s no argument that 2020 was a crazy year. Uncertainty, turmoil and change hit virtually everyone and all sectors of the economy, including the bedding products industry. Unlike other sectors of the economy, mattress sales and revenue were strong in 2020, but how companies did business and how consumers thought about, shopped and bought bedding products underwent significant transformation.

To give the industry insight into shifting consumer attitudes and behaviors in this environment, the Better Sleep Council has set about to conduct a quarterly national survey of mattress buyers. The initial study, conducted in late November, surveyed 500 people, all of whom had purchased a mattress in the last month or planned to do so within 30 days.

The study uncovered several interesting facts about mattress shoppers’ mindsets and actions, and about how they’re adapting to the current environment. For example:

• Mattress buyers say a good night’s sleep is even more important than diet and exercise when it comes to their health.
• With home being the place where people have to live, work and attend school, consumers are spending money on all kinds of things to optimize their homes – and the broad category of bedding products is their top purchase, while mattresses rank fifth.
• Not surprisingly, people are buying mattresses online more frequently, but they miss the in-store shopping experience.
• With so much of their lives being affected by change, people are reacting by searching for and shopping new brands and retailers.

More details about what mattress shoppers were thinking, feeling and doing in Q4 of 2020 can be found in the report here: BSC Tracker Results: Q4 2020

From curbside grocery pickups to daily deliveries from Amazon, COVID-19 has had a heavy impact on the way we shop for almost everything, including mattresses.

So, how exactly has COVID-19 affected mattress shopping in 2020? Well, the Better Sleep Council asked people who planned to purchase or had purchased a mattress and here are some of our key findings.

Sleep on It

During COVID, shoppers are making faster decisions and are spending less time researching before making a purchase.

• In 2020, almost half of those who bought new mattresses said they spent one week or less shopping, while in 2019, only 31% spent that same amount of time shopping.
• Not only were people taking more time to make a purchase pre-COVID, but they were also doing more homework. In 2020, people researched three to four sources before making a decision, compared to seven to eight sources in 2019.

Count Stars Before Counting Sheep

The study revealed the importance of online reviews in mattress shopping research. Mary Helen Rogers, vice president for marketing and communications at the Better Sleep Council, states, “Shoppers who look at online reviews value them and find them influential – our findings reiterate this. For instance, of the 47% of mattress shoppers who read or had planned to read online reviews, 74% considered them a top factor in their final purchase decision.”

Since it can sometimes be difficult to tell which online reviews will be the most helpful to you, it’s best to use a mix of different sources to guide and influence your decisions while mattress shopping.

• Ask friends – a tried-and-true method. Our personal sense of self is derived from other people, and social psychologists have even said that the more of your identity you draw from a group, even when you’re not around that group, the more likely you are to uphold those values. Friends will give you all of the unfiltered pros and cons of their mattresses, may open your eyes to some new options you hadn’t thought of, and could sway your opinion while mattress shopping.
• Social media – What’s the conversation around the mattress you’re looking at purchasing? Social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Reddit have entire communities based on mattresses and mattress buying.
• Online mattress tools – Online tools, like our Better Bed Quizzz, are built to help you find a mattress that suits your exact needs. And the best part? They’re free.

Power Your Sleep with the Power of Research

A late 2019 Better Sleep Council study showed that people who take shopping shortcuts aren’t satisfied with their mattress purchase. They feel less informed and reported being less satisfied with their sleep quality. Shoppers who spend time researching feel more satisfied with their purchase, enjoy their shopping experience and are more likely to be satisfied with their sleep quality.

All of this means your new mattress is affecting your sleep before you even buy it. So, you should take your time to study up on what works for you. Our Better Bed Quizzz can give you a personalized summary of your mattress needs and even tips on testing a mattress in-store.

Speaking of in-store, you may feel a bit apprehensive going to a physical location to shop for a mattress, but many retailers have taken measures to ensure the shopping environment is safe during the pandemic. The Better Sleep Council always recommends trying before you buy, using the S.L.E.E.P test mentioned in our guide to choosing the best mattress.

The pressures of COVID can make it feel like there is less time to spend all around, but if our findings have taught us anything, it’s that better sleep is worth the research. Take your time on your research, use a mix of reviews and other sources for a better-informed opinion, and you can find a mattress that’s perfect for you. You can even check out our full COVID-19 Mattress Shopping Study for more information.

Source:

• https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190520-how-your-friends-change-your-habits—for-better-and-worse

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