Whether you cite a lingering cold or a hungry dog as the justification for leaving your family's holiday celebrations before bedtime, you’re not alone.
Holiday festivities with extended family members often make for tight sleeping quarters, and 52 percent of American adults have admitted to inventing excuses “specifically to avoid uncomfortable sleeping arrangements” at relative’s homes, according to a new study from INTEX.
While it feels good to know that you’re not the only one who shudders at the thought of a night of restless sleep on your great-aunt’s vintage sofa-chair, respondents duly reported that lackluster bedding accommodations are their motivation to politely exit soon after dessert.
At this point, it's worth noting that INTEX — or the Intex Recreation Corp — is a manufacturer of "air mattresses and air beds," as well as toys, furniture, boats and above-ground pools.
That said, the company's study claims that, during the holidays, 62 percent of respondents said they’ve slept on the couch and 44 percent said they’ve spent the night on the floor, like in a sleeping bag. And 39 percent said they had been assigned a bed that was uncomfortably small.
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If you thought that sounded rough, others had it even worse. Thirteen percent of adults polled said that they’d been relegated to a child-themed bed, and 7 percent even said they’ve had to sleep in a tent. For these reasons, and limited options, 46 percent of respondents said that figuring out sleeping arrangements are more likely to cause arguments than agreeing on a television program or movie for everyone to watch together.
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As the cost of travel inevitably rockets during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah and New Year’s, it can be tough to turn down free lodgings, but there’s no reason to feel guilty about putting the wellbeing of yourself and loved ones first. If that means getting a great night’s sleep in a hotel bed after a family soiree, so be it.
Splurging on comfortable accommodations will not only keep the peace, but have you truly appreciating the "most wonderful time" of the year.
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