Americans Morning Struggles Tied To Sleep Habits, Alarm Use, And Stress

Waking up in the morning is a consistent struggle for many Americans, according to a new survey.

The survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, commissioned by Avocado Green Mattress and conducted by Talker Research, revealed that two in five people admit theyre simply not good at mornings — with 38% saying theyre “bad” at them, and most hitting snooze on their routines as often as eight times a month.

A significant portion — one in 10 — reported oversleeping more than 20 times a month, often triggering a cascade of skipped steps in their morning routines. The most common casualty is breakfast, which 41% of respondents skip when they get out of bed late. Others admit to skipping showers (16%) or even brushing their teeth (11%) to make up for lost time.

The survey, also shed light on Americans reliance on alarms. Just 43% of all respondents use alarms to wake up, though younger generations are far more likely to depend on them — 63% of Gen Z and millennials, compared to only 19% of baby boomers. On average, alarm users set two alarms in the morning, and a fifth of them hit snooze at least three times before finally getting up.

“Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, quality sleep is non-negotiable,” said Laura Scott, Director of Brand Marketing at Avocado Green Mattress. “Your natural sleep rhythm should be supported — not disrupted — by an environment designed for deep, restorative rest.”

There were sharp contrasts between self-identified early birds and night owls. Two-thirds of early birds reported that their alarms were “very effective” in helping them get up on time, while only about half of night owls said the same. The type of alarm sound also varied — early birds typically used standard or preset tones, while night owls favored jarring noises like fire alarms or honking to jolt themselves awake.

Despite both groups averaging around six and a half hours of sleep per night, night owls were more likely to say they arent getting enough rest — 70% compared to 55% of early birds. They also reported greater challenges with sleep overall, including difficulty falling asleep (44% vs. 27%) and going to bed later than they should (48% vs. 24%). Staying in bed past their wake-up time was also more common among night owls (25% vs. 8%).

Poor sleep quality emerged as a recurring issue. Over half of respondents (51%) cited worry and stress as their biggest obstacles to restful sleep, followed by diagnosed sleep disorders (30%) and stress-related nightmares (20%). Physical discomfort from an unsupportive mattress (19%) and noisy environments (14%) also ranked among the top five disruptors.

“So many of us lie awake at night, our minds racing with worry or stress,” Scott said. “That’s why it’s so important to create sleep spaces and habits that are calm and supportive — so you can wake up feeling like yourself again.”