This week is National Sleep Awareness Week, which was established by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) in 1998. It was originally designed as a platform for educating the public about sleep health.   

The week encompasses the switch to Daylight Savings Time (March 9), National Napping Day (March 10) and World Sleep Day (March 14). 

And according to a new survey most Americans (53%) rate their sleep quality as lacking—that is “Fair” or “poor.”  The survey was conducted by Stagwell’s Harris Poll on behalf of Mattress Firm.  

And the shift to Daylight Savings Time—when the clocks are turned ahead one hour—doesn't help. 42% find the shift disruptive to their sleep and 40% say the time shift is “outdated.” 

The U.S. Senate agreed and passed a bill in 2022 proposing Daylight Savings Time as the year-round official time for the nation. But the House of Representatives didn’t follow suit and no law was passed.  

And, per the survey, there’s no place like home, which is where 93% of respondents say they sleep best—in their own bed. And 70% prefer to sleep with some kind of lulling noise, like nature sounds. 

For Mattress Firm the nub of the matter is probably this: 26% reported that they are sleeping on mattresses past their prime (seven or more years old). But don’t worry--the company is here to help with product promotions and discounts running through March 16. 

As for the time change, I wouldn’t bet on that issue being settled anytime soon. It looks like Republicans and Democrats have higher priorities right now. Like dismantling the federal government and destroying relations with most of our important allies on one hand and attempting to preserve democracy on the other.