Toronto commuters got a surprise 'sleep concert' on a TTC streetcar
There’s no better way to see just how exhausted Canadians really are than by taking a look at our transit systems, including the busy routes in the GTA.
Hop on an early-morning streetcar or a 6 p.m. subway ride, and you’ll see dozens of passengers nodding off and snoozing. The telltale signs are easy to spot: closed eyes, slumped shoulders, and heads hanging.
Don't forget the eyes jolting open and the feeling of embarrassment that happens as soon as a passenger starts to fall asleep. For many tired riders, that moment of rest comes with a surprising amount of self-consciousness.
But really, what's the shame in catching a few minutes of rest? After all, if there's any place people should be allowed to sneak in a quick recharge, it's during the daily commute.
That's the question that Sleep Country wanted to tackle — and so they did, in a big way. With Sleep Awareness Month here, the brand is taking it upon itself to put an end to sleep shame.
Recently, Canada's leading specialty sleep retailer decided to help Toronto commuters by giving them permission to rest and offering a rare moment of calm.
Streetcar riders during the busiest hours of service were met with professional musician Alice Li serenading them with live instrumental lullabies. As the music played, the atmosphere inside the streetcar shifted — the usual noise and motion of the commute giving way to a noticeably quieter moment.
The activation challenged the idea that resting in public isn't something to feel embarrassed about and brought a moment of calm into one of the busiest parts of the day.
Normalizing rest in public
According to a Sleep Country study, 7 in 10 Canadians feel exhausted at least a few days per week. Meanwhile, 82 per cent of transit users have felt the urge to fall asleep while commuting.*
If so many commuters feel the urge to sleep during their journey, it speaks to a broader reality: many Canadians are simply running on empty and looking for small moments to rest wherever they can.
Living in a culture that glorifies hustle and productivity, where exhaustion is worn like a badge of honour, has its ups and downs. When catching up on much-needed rest feels like something people need to hide, especially in public, even a quick moment of sleep can come with a surprising amount of self-consciousness.
In addition, more than half of transit users feel self-conscious about sleeping on their commute, solidifying its status as an unofficial place to rest.
Stop sleep shaming
Sleep Country is saying enough with the sleep guilt! Everyone knows that good sleep means a better you, and now it’s time to challenge the idea that sleep should be hidden and that you don't need permission to rest.
Take this public stunt as a sign to rethink your rest and reclaim your commuter snooze sessions! For more information on better sleep and sleep shame, visit the Sleep Country website — and don't feel bad about sneaking in a few extra Zs whenever you can.
Sleep Country
