December 27, 2022
Thinking of hosting friends and family overnight this holiday season? You may want to think twice, reports Study Finds.
A survey of 2,000 Americans (split evenly by generation) commissioned by Serta Simmons Bedding and conducted by OnePoll has found that those hosting friends and family during the holidays lose 2.5 hours of sleep per day when preparing to have others in their home. Of all the generations, Gen Z are the most likely to lose at least four hours of sleep per day while prepping for guests.
Usually, 32% of respondents say they’re both hosts and guests at some point during the holidays, while one in six only host people or only stay as guests. Specifically, Gen Z respondents are most likely to host guests, while Millennials are among the top to stay over as guests.
For those who want to ensure that they are not overstaying their welcome, 49% of respondents think spending four days or more as a guest is too long. Guests seem to be mindful of this unspoken rule. When hosting others, 79% say their guests stay four nights or less.
But, no matter how long people spend visiting their loved ones during the festive season, results found it can affect respondents’ sleep in various ways. Those who are guests during the holidays report that their sleep schedule was disrupted—75% felt compelled to go to sleep and wake up at the same time as their hosts. This was especially true for younger guests: 83% of Gen Z guests match their hosts’ sleep schedule, compared to only 61% of Baby Boomer guests.
What’s more—regardless of whether they’re sleeping in their own bed or not—more than a third of respondents (34%) say the holidays are the most sleepless time of the year. Younger respondents were more likely to agree: 40% of Gen Z and Millennials say it’s the most sleepless time, compared to 31% of Gen X and just 24% of Baby Boomers.
Some of the top reasons include excitement for the season (33%), stress around prepping for guests (25%); indulging in too many holiday treats, and holiday movie marathons (21% and 20%, respectively).
Thirty percent of guests actually bring their own bedding when staying over, with Millennials most likely to do so (37%). Another 12% want to but are worried about offending their host. Although, those who are worried about offending the host, don’t need to be, as seven in 10 Americans shared that they wouldn’t feel very insulted, if at all.
When it comes to additional adjustments to get ready for guests, only 7% of hosts hide valuables, while 25% of guests admit they would snoop in the nightstand. Of guests surveyed, Gen Zers are the most likely to snoop in nightstands (30%), compared to just 16% of Baby Boomers.
And finally, when it comes to guests, Baby Boomers are most likely to always clean up after themselves when staying over at someone’s home (72%).
Research contact: @StudyFindsorg
