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NEW YORK — How much bad luck does it really take to ruin someone’s day? For many Americans, one bad morning can derail everything.
The survey, commissioned by Avocado Green Mattress and conducted by Talker Research, reveals that the average American knows if they’re in for a “bad day” by 8:36 a.m. That poll of 2,000 Americans also found that the average person endures four bad days per month, totaling a staggering 48 days — or a month and a half — of bad days annually.
Perhaps most striking is the revelation that for 26% of respondents, when something goes awry in the morning, the day seems completely lost. Mornings also appear to be the critical battleground for setting the day’s tone. The top five morning mishaps that signal an impending bad day include:
- Waking up feeling sick (35%)
- Sleeping poorly throughout the night (31%)
- Waking up with a headache (29%)
- Losing keys (26%)
- Forgetting phone at home (25%)
Other common harbingers of a bad day include running out of toilet paper (22%), forgetting a wallet at home (22%), and oversleeping (18%).
The impact of these morning setbacks can be severe. Nearly half of the respondents (48%) admitted to canceling plans or calling out of work to return to sleep after waking up with a feeling that the day would be challenging.
“Bad days happen to everyone, sometimes from stress or poor sleep,” says Christine Carpio, senior manager of Community + Social Impact at Avocado Green Mattress, in a statement. “By focusing on self-care and prioritizing rest, you can turn those tough days into chances for a fresh start and a brighter outlook.”
The survey also explored the relationship between sleep quality and daily experiences. An overwhelming 71% of respondents say that their sleep quality could be the “make or break” factor between a good day and a bad one. Moreover, 77% reported that a good night’s rest better prepares them to handle potential morning mishaps.
For parents, the back-to-school season presents additional challenges. Among the nearly 500 parents of school-aged children surveyed, 55% noted that their children are more prone to bad days at the start of the school year as they readjust to the schedule. Interestingly, 51% of parents also experience an increase in bad days during this period, with 56% reporting that their child’s bad day often leads to their own.
As Americans seek ways to prevent bad days, the top strategies include setting aside “alone time” every day for relaxation (41%), making time for enjoyable activities (37%), and ensuring they get adequate sleep (35%).
“As we approach the busiest time of the year, from heading back-to-school and into the holiday season, slowing down where possible and prioritizing rest is a great way to prevent bad days,” says Laura Scott, Director of Brand Marketing.
Top 20 Causes Of Bad Days
- Waking up and feeling sick — 35%
- Sleeping poorly throughout the night — 31%
- Waking up with a headache — 29%
- Losing my keys — 26%
- Forgetting my phone at home — 25%
- Running out of toilet paper — 22%
- Forgetting my wallet at home — 22%
- Sleeping through my alarm — 19%
- Generally oversleeping (not waking up on time/when intended) — 18%
- Having forgotten to plug my phone in the night before — 18%
- Stubbing my toe — 17%
- Waking up on the “wrong side of the bed” — 17%
- Forgetting to set my alarm — 17%
- Waking up and finding the Wi-Fi is down — 16%
- My credit card is declined — 16%
- My partner is in a bad mood — 15%
- Running out of coffee — 15%
- Spilling my coffee in the morning — 14%
- Waking up to a mess from the dog/cat (poop, throw-up, etc.) — 14%
- Running into traffic — 14%
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 July 23 and July 30, 2024.
The other day i had several things go wrong, including accidentally closing the garage on my car.
I just wanted to crawl back into bed. But instead I decided to reset my attitude, and have a good day from that point forward. It was a good day. The car performs the same with the scratch as before that happened. And I learned that a bad start doesn’t ruin a day unless you decide that it will.
Today, I’m exhausted, because I’ve been working hard for a long time. I’m grateful for the job, and my health.
Not everything is in your control, but your attitude is.
I know before then. I look over my disabled brother and he wakes me up at about 2 am every night screaming about something and then Im up till I get back from work and hope I can get into bed by 6 pm so I can get some type of sleep before the next scream fest.
I usually know around 11:30PM the night before.