The Nordic Museum is launching an initiative to collect testimonies and information about personal sleeping habits, driven by the belief that sleep, which consumes a third of our lives, deserves a place in cultural history. Museum curator Anna Fredholm emphasizes the importance of understanding how sleep practices have evolved and how they relate to societal changes and cultural norms.

Historically, sleeping arrangements in early 20th century Stockholm were quite cramped, with families often sharing beds and sleeping spaces. Fredholm notes that this situation led to particular practices and possibly even discomfort around sleep, as family members were forced to coordinate their bedtimes to avoid disturbing one another. As society evolved, particularly with the development of the folkhemmet concept, more attention was paid to individual sleep needs, leading to studies and publications on proper bedding and sleep environments.

The initiative aims to explore these historical transitions, as well as contemporary practices linked to sleep, such as the use of personal devices. By appealing to the public for input, the museum seeks to archive diverse sleeping experiences, contributing to a broader understanding of sleep's cultural significance throughout history and how it might continue to shape our lives in the future.