In downtown Mexico City, the street was littered with blue yoga mats, sleeping masks and travel pillows, as hundreds of Mexicans laid down at the base of the Monument to the Revolution to take a nap.
The “mass siesta,” was in commemoration of World Sleep Day, as a protest to push for sleep to be considered an essential part of health and wellness. The event was organized by the Center for Sleep and Neurosciences and the Mexican Society for the Investigation of Medicine and Sleep, to highlight “sleep inequality” around the world.
“We live in a society that is full of economic, social and political commitments, where everything matters other than rest. That can have a strong impact on health,” said Oscar Sánchez Escandón, president of SOMIMS.
Nearly half of Mexicans have trouble sleeping, according to a study by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, as Mexico was listed as the most overworked country in the world. Mexico’s congress debated a proposed reform to officially lower the weekly work hours from 48 to 40, which is standard for much of the world. The debate has been kicked back to 2024.
“We are in a country where the paychecks often don’t add up. Sometimes we have to work two jobs, but we also need to make sure to care for our sleep quality,” Filio said, Gabriela Filio, a 49-year-old nurse.