Bad days. We’ve all experienced them and for many of us, it doesn’t take much to turn a day into chaos before breakfast.
According to a new survey from Avocado Green Mattress, the average American knows their day is going to be bad by 8:36 a.m. And that’s not just a rare occurrence—four times a month, people expect the worst, which adds up to an average of 48 bad days per year.
The morning seems to be crucial for the course of the day. The survey shows that common morning mishaps – such as waking up feeling unwell (35%), lack of sleep (31%) or a morning headache (29%) – are among the most important indicators of a bad day. Even seemingly small inconveniences such as misplacing keys (26%) or forgetting your phone (25%) can ruin the whole day.
The impact of these morning disruptions is significant, with nearly half of respondents (48%) saying they cancel plans or call in sick after a stressful start to the day, preferring to go back to bed in the hope of salvaging what’s left.
And while there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to bad days, the research team found that prioritizing mental health is key to avoiding bad days. This includes building rest into your daily routine and making sure you get enough sleep each night.
“Everyone has different things that help them feel better,” says Brittney Moses, a mental health advocate. “Perhaps going for a run every morning helps clear your head, or eating certain foods gives you more energy. But it’s a good rule of thumb to get into the habit of paying attention to what works for you.”
