INSIGHT


According to the IKEA Global Sleep 2025 Report, women consistently sleep less and worse than men.

• 
  31% of women rate their sleep as poor, compared to 25% of men.
  
• 
  44% of women wake up feeling tired, versus 33% of men.
  
• 
  In Spain, the sleep quality index is 61% for women, compared to 67% for men.
  

Behind these numbers lies an invisible cause: the mental load. RATIONAL


Women carry a constant mental load: a combination of responsibilities, concerns, and expectations that, while they may seem small, together create a deafening noise. These are invisible alarms to many, but they have very real effects on our daily lives. That’s why we decided to bring them to light for all IKEA coworkers and to launch a message of shared responsibility, reaffirming IKEA's commitment to its Equality Plan, which ensures an equitable work environment.

IDEA

To make the mental load tangible, we created a sound installation that gave voice to the thoughts keeping women awake.

Through internal surveys, we gathered real statements from female coworkers, the recurring thoughts that prevent them from disconnecting.

These thoughts were activated through an installation of IKEA alarm clocks, symbolizing the “mental alarms” many women cannot silence, even at rest.

The experience allowed colleagues to physically hear what usually remains unspoken.

We documented the reactions of both men and women as they confronted realities they were often unaware of. The project also opened space for men to share their own experiences, fostering dialogue rather than division.

The result was a consciousness-raising film launched on March 8th (8M), accompanied by a call to action: turning equality into a shared dream and a shared responsibility.