Why do younger people schedule worry time?

One in 10 young Americans schedules “worry time,” according to new research.

The survey of 2,000 general population Americans revealed that 10% of younger Americans (Gen Z and millennial respondents) schedule a specific time in their day to worry.

That’s compared to just 3% of older Americans (Gen X and baby boomers) surveyed.

The survey asked respondents why they schedule “worry time” — or why they would consider doing so (38%) — and revealed a variety of benefits.

Respondents said it helps to reduce the time they spend worrying and allows them to manage their anxiety. Having a set time to worry would also help with mental health, as well as limit both the impact of stress on their life and how much they worry about things out of their control.

Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Avocado Green Mattress ahead of Earth Day in April, the survey also looked more generally at “worry” and the impact this has on Americans’ lives.

Forty-seven percent of respondents said it feels like they’re in a “constant” state of worry — and this was much more common for younger respondents. Six in 10 (62%) of Gen Z and millennial respondents agreed with this, versus 38% of Gen X and baby boomers surveyed.

And results found that the average respondent worries for two hours and 18 minutes per day.

When asked when in the day they tend to worry the most, a third said they worry when they’re alone (33%).

Thirty percent also find themselves worrying before they fall asleep, while others said their worry tends to hit when they wake up in the morning (17%) or when they’re getting ready for bed (12%).

“Worry doesn’t just affect our mindset — it can also take a real toll on our sleep,” said Brooke Witt, VP of Marketing at Avocado Green Mattress. “When our thoughts are preoccupied with finances, family or our to-do lists, it can be harder to fall asleep and stay asleep, which impacts how rested we feel the next day.

“We know how important quality sleep is for overall well-being, and we’re committed to helping people create a space for rest, even in life’s busier, more stressful moments.”

Respondents were asked what they worry about as they fall asleep, and the survey revealed their finances (53%), their family (42%) and things they need to take care of (42%) were the top three worries.

That was followed by their health (37%), getting enough sleep (22%) and the current political situation (19%).

Over half of respondents surveyed are parents, and they were asked specifically about the worries they have for their children.

Seventy-seven percent of parents surveyed said they’re worried about the world in which their child is growing up. And 34% of parents specifically called out climate change, saying they believe climate change will limit their children’s options.

One parent said, “Honestly, I worry that there won’t be a world for my child to grow up in,” while another doesn’t “believe [my children] will get to see and experience the things I did growing up.”

“There’s always something on our minds — whether it’s work, family or concerns about the future,” said Amy Sieman, Affiliate Manager at Avocado Green Mattress. “This research highlights just how much those everyday worries can follow us to bed, affecting both our sleep and our daily lives.

“We believe that quality rest is key to feeling our best, and we’re proud to help support a more relaxed and restorative night’s sleep.”

WHAT DO RESPONDENTS WORRY ABOUT AS THEY FALL ASLEEP?

• Finances — 53%
• My family — 42%
• Things I need to take care of — 42%
• My health — 37%
• Getting enough sleep — 22%
• Politics/the current political situation — 19%
• Work — 17%
• My pets — 13%
• Climate change (and the impacts of climate change) — 6%

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by Avocado Green Mattress and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between March 10–12, 2025.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:

• Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
• Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in

Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:

• Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
• Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
• Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
• Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once

It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.