New Jersey Ranks 36 in the Country When It Comes to Bedroom Noise (Not the Good Kind)

Most people don’t think they snore. Even if we’re told by our whole family that we do, we usually take some convincing. Because a snorer never hears themselves. My wife tells me I snore occasionally, and when I do she’ll wake me up to tell me. “You’re snoring,” she says, and I usually respond with something like, “Are you sure,” or “No, really?”

A friend of mine was so exasperated with her husband’s snoring, and his constant denial that she devised a clever plan. One night when he was snoring so loud that the windows were shaking, she recorded the unbearable noise on her phone. Then she turned it up and played back right into his ear. She repeated the process until he agreed to do something about it. Eventually, he got a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to stop the snoring. Now all she needs to deal with is the quiet noise from the machine.

This is a problem throughout the world. So much so that the folks at MattressNextDay conducted a study to see where the worst snorers in the country reside.

Mississippi topped the list where nearly 493,000 snorers rattle the bedroom every night, and not in a good way. That’s almost 17% of all the residents in the state.

So what about New Jersey? We’re not as bad, we ranked 36^th on the list with only 13.4 percent of us making sleep noises. New York landed at 27^th and 13.9 percent. Pennsylvania is 32^nd with 13.6 percent, and Connecticut 38^th with 13.3 percent.

MattressNextDay also offered some tips to help either stop or reduce snoring. Maybe you can try these before you seek professional help.

You can try sleeping on your side rather than your back. Back sleepers snore more because the tongue, neck tissue, and chin press down on airways causing turbulence. Side sleeping relieves pressure on the airway and reduces snoring.

Avoid alcohol before you go to sleep. Alcohol relaxes throat muscles, reducing airway rigidity and causing the soft tissue to vibrate, leading to snoring.

Maintain a good diet. Being overweight causes fatty tissue around the neck to press on the airway, leading to snoring. Weight reduction and a healthy lifestyle can improve breathing and reduce snoring.

Get new pillows. Skin flakes and pathogens in old pillows can trigger reactions like snoring. Invest in more comfortable, supportive pillows, and use one pillow instead of two.

More detailed tips can be found here. https://www.mattressnextday.co.uk/snooze-news/post/how-to-stop-snoring-while-sleeping

Using public restrooms might not seem like rocket science, but the moment you step into that bathroom, there's a code of etiquette to follow. It's all about not giving anyone the cringe-worthy vibes, especially when they're handling their business. Unfortunately, quite a few people haven't quite grasped bathroom manners.

Public restrooms are essential facilities that serve a crucial purpose in our daily lives. However, maintaining proper etiquette in these shared spaces is essential for the comfort and well-being of everyone who uses them. Understanding what not to do in a public restroom can go a long way in ensuring a positive experience for all.

Certain unwritten public restroom guidelines are universal among most people. Take, for example, the unspoken agreement not to choose a stall right next to an occupied one in a multiple-stall restroom. It might sound a tad extreme, but there's something oddly unsettling about sharing such limited privacy with a complete stranger. Another rule of thumb is to steer clear of using the handicapped stall unless it's meant for you. You never know when someone might genuinely need it, and finding yourself on the receiving end of that awkward situation is far from ideal.

Furthermore, if your goal is to keep the public restroom experience as unawkward as possible, avoid using your phone while in there. For some people, it can come across as unsettling when you're waiting in line in front of someone who's busy scrolling through their phone. Especially in today's era of oversharing on social media and the inexplicable urge that some people have to document every moment.

Occasionally, public restrooms can present some strange situations. So, before you head into the bathroom, here are nine tips on public restroom etiquette. And, of course, how to avoid those awkward situations.

Feel free to touch up your makeup or give your teeth a quick brush. But skip the complex routines like flossing, clipping your nails, or shaving. Keep phone calls at bay, and save emails and browsing for later. Remember, public bathrooms are riskier for hygiene. According to Health, a health and lifestyle website, illnesses like COVID-19, flu, and colds can be found on surfaces. So, minimize your time there for safety's sake.

If you spot someone you know, a nod is perfectly okay. No need to shake hands! In fact, CNN reported that only 5% of people who used the bathroom washed their hands long enough to kill the germs that can cause infections. It's risky to assume otherwise. No one needs to guess where your hands were. Wet handshakes are bad, worse if it's mystery liquid.

Avoid engaging in conversations between stalls or near urinals. This holds particularly true within the office environment, where you can't be certain if a colleague or supervisor is in the adjacent stall, potentially overhearing any complaints or gossip you share. A Redditor shared their frustration on the discussion board saying that talking in stalls should only be for, "Can you pass me some toilet paper? This ones out" or "Crap. Do you have a tampon?"

Staying connected is great, thanks to our trusty smartphones always being by our side. But let's not take them to the bathroom. Besides the germs, it can get awkward. The person on your call hears bathroom noises and flushes. The nearby stall occupant gets only half the conversation, making the shared bathroom uncomfortable.

You're eyeing a solo bathroom, uncertain if it's taken. Start with a knock on the door. No response? Next, put your hand on the doorknob and carefully turn it to one side. Did it open? If not, odds are someone's inside, so hold on. No need to shake the handle like you've never met a doorknob. That's a surefire method to give the person inside a shock. And just in case the person in the restroom forgot to lock the door, at least all your bases are covered.

There are some people who think they're maintaining hygiene by flushing toilets with their feet. In reality, this is one of the least hygienic actions. Shoes aren't clean, particularly after navigating a public restroom, exposing them to unclean surfaces. This transfers germs where others touch. If you're concerned about germs, consider using a piece of toilet paper to operate the flush handle.

Tidy up after use. This rule covers all areas of the restroom. After you're done, take a look at the seat and floor, and clean as needed. To put it simply, be considerate and give your seat a wipe. This also pertains to the sink. While soap is clean, leaving a large blob under the dispenser isn't polite behavior.

According to Geisinger, a health organization, studies indicate the average time spent in the restroom is about 12 seconds. Occasionally, it might take longer, but it's generally recommended not to exceed 10 minutes. So, if you find yourself scrolling through Instagram and Facebook during your bathroom time, you may want to reconsider. Keep in mind that others may be waiting their turn, and lingering around the restroom door isn't the most comfortable scenario. On the other hand, if the restroom is occupied, it's courteous to step away and return later. It's unnecessary to wait outside the door, which could potentially be embarrassing for the occupant. However, if waiting is not feasible, forming a line is an acceptable option.

Making stall doors with a gap has benefits. If the door went all the way down, people couldn't see if someone needed help. The gap helps in emergencies and lets responders assist without breaking in. Also, the gap can stop actions like sex or drug use, in stalls. But don't make things weird by staring at people through them. That's just uncomfortable.