Right and wrong way to sleep, according to Americans

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

TURNS OUT A LOT OF AMERICANS ARE A LITTLE ‘SLUMBER-STITIOUS.’

A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 AMERICANS FROMMATTRESS FIRM FINDS TWO-THIRDS BELIEVE THERE’S A ‘RIGHT’ WAY TO GET THE PERFECT NIGHT’S SLEEP.

IN FACT, 76 PERCENT SAY THEY STICK TO A STRICT BEDTIME ROUTINE, AND 79 PERCENT SAY THEY SLEEP BETTER WHEN THEY FOLLOW IT.

THEIR MUST-HAVES INCLUDE SLEEPING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED, USING TWO PILLOWS, AND FOR NEARLY HALF OF RESPONDENTS, A TOP SHEET IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.

THE IDEAL SLEEP TEMPERATURE IS 66 DEGREES, AND MOST PEOPLE SAY THEY’D RATHER BE TOO COLD THAN TOO HOT.

THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, ALSO FOUND AMERICANS AVERAGE JUST 10 ‘PERFECT’ NIGHTS OF SLEEP A MONTH.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? DO YOU HAVE A BEDTIME ROUTINE OR A MUST-HAVE SLEEP SETUP? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

MOST UNIQUE RITUALS TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

• “I rub the side of my foot against my bed before I go to sleep and it calms my body down.”
• “Listening to a short, calming story or piano music.”
• “I spray my pillow with lavender spray and turn on my little fan.”
• “Turning on my white noise machine about 10 minutes before I turn off the light.”
• “Eating peanut butter.”
• “Falling asleep to the Beverly Hillbillies.”
• “Drinking something hot and having the room cold.”
• “Lotion on my hands and feet.”
• “Getting my cat above my head.”
• “I have to lay with my phone right next to me or I don't feel comfortable.”
• “Clicking the door handle three times.”

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Mattress Firm and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Feb. 17 to Feb. 20, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.