Spain used to be known as the country of insomniacs. The Spaniards have long had their own unique schedule. Dinner doesn't usually start until 10 p.m., and people may not go to bed until 3 a.m. Then they'll get up at 7 in the morning and historically took midday siestas for several hours. But as Spain got more Europeanized, businesses began to stay open all day. People, however, still went to bed late, hence the insomniac part. We Americans are right on the Spaniards' heels in terms of sleep deprivation. With longer commutes and more responsibilities, our sleep has become increasingly scarce. Clark's YMCA now opens at 5:30 in the morning and people are lined up because it's the only time during their day that they can exercise.

This whole trend has led people to look for the magic answer to better sleep in better (and more expensive) mattresses. There's a huge market for premium mattresses -- those that cost $2,500 or more. Smart Money magazine reports that one in four mattresses bought is now a premium one, and the market has doubled over the last five years. There's not a lot of scientific evidence to suggest these beds will get you better sleep. So Clark suggests some other low-tech ways to get your rest. Try turning the TV off at an earlier time and not sitting on the Internet past 9 p.m. You might even try removing TVs and computers from your bedroom entirely. Just a thought before you go plunking $2,500 down on a premium mattress. Meanwhile, be sure to vote in Clark's polls and tell us what you think about this issue.