NJ Better Sleep Study Reveals Surprising Results

It’s Better Sleep Month in New Jersey and throughout the country. We are all always looking to get better sleep. If there is a way to sleep more soundly, I would try it, as long as there aren’t any pills or artificial means involved. My mom, who is elderly, has trouble sleeping and we’ve tried many things, but nothing seems to help.

Better Sleep Month is wrapping up and according to a new better sleep study by MattressNextDay spoke with us here in New Jersey about our sleep habits and patterns. The survey studied many things including the duration of our sleep, the quality of our sleep, our routines before bedtime, and some of the factors that affect our sleep.

The average New Jersey resident says they get almost seven hours of sleep each night during the work week. That’s more than I expected because I barely got six and thought that was true for most of us. About seventeen percent reported getting six hours, thirty-one percent said seven, and twenty-two percent claimed they were getting a solid eight hours. Eight hours a night would be perfect for me, I feel like if I could get another couple hours a week that would make a huge difference.

During the weekend, as you would expect, we say our average sleep time jumps to almost seven hours at six point nine four hours on Friday and Saturday nights. Thirty-one percent sleep eight hours and eleven percent are still only getting six hours on the weekend.

Many of us do not have a consistent bedtime, and experts say that could be the main issue. During the work week, if possible, we should be trying to hit the be at the same time each night. For those who say they have a consistent bedtime, most go to bed at ten with eleven being the next most popular bedtime. For better sleep, it’s best to go to sleep eight hours before you’re setting your alarm to wake up.

If your alarm goes off at six then try to be in bed by ten. I wake up at three forty-five so my goal is to be in bed by seven forty-five. That never happens. It’s just too early, which is the reason many don’t get better sleep than we should.

Then there are all the better sleep disruptions we get, including just waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back to sleep. We in New Jersey wake up more than twice each night and it usually takes about twenty minutes to fall back to sleep. Some of the reasons include being thirsty, the temperature of the room, bad dreams, or worrying about the next day. Sleeping with a partner who snores or has other sleep issues can affect their partner’s sleep as well.

Better Sleep experts say that the problem can be that we use our beds for many things other than sleep. Watching movies and romantic interludes are most common, but some scroll on their phones, work, or read as well. It’s best to try and use your bed for sleep only. This trains your mind and body to adjust and rest when you’re in bed.

The oldest bed ever discovered dates back some 77,000 years, according to the BBC. Found in South Africa, it’s made of woven reeds and rushes, which were covered by a thick layer of insect-repellant leaves. Measuring 2 square meters, or about 21.5 square feet, archeologists say the simple bed would have been large enough to hold an entire family and likely would have been quite comfortable.

Unlike what we’re used to today, however, the bed would have been in the central part of the family’s living space. Bedrooms, or designated sleeping areas, didn’t really begin to develop until the 17th century when architecture began to shift away from an open sequence of communal rooms to a nest of private rooms. Even in ancient Rome, where the wealthy would sometimes have separate alcoves for their beds, the rooms were nothing more than small, doorless cells tucked off of a central atrium.

Today, bedrooms are one of the most important aspects of the home. Whether an owner’s suite or a small guest space, bedrooms are no longer just places for sleep, but cozy havens that afford privacy and allow a retreat from the demands of life. In light of that history, and in honor of the role bedrooms play in modern life, Sunday Citizen compiled a list of 10 cozy bedrooms from movies. From opulent bedchambers fit for a queen to midcentury modern rooms that are more utility than luxe, you’re sure to agree that these bedrooms are the ideal place to catch some zzz’s.

Amelie’s quirky personality and overactive imagination are on display in her Montmartre bedroom. Bold jewel colors, eccentric animal art prints, and mood lighting define the cozy space, which was designed by Aline Bonetto.

The bedrooms in “Moulin Rouge” are the epitome of adjectives like over-the-top, bohemian, and Victorian. Set designer Derek McLane utilized rich fabrics, a collection of plush rugs, and an abundance of pillows to bring the cozy vibes to life.

In huge, cavernous rooms, like the one in “The Favorite,” a canopy bed makes all the difference between drafty and cozy. Imagine whiling away a morning, lazing in the enormous bed, sipping a hot cup of coffee, and watching the rain fall outside the giant picture windows.

No on-screen bedroom has encapsulated midcentury modern decor quite like the one in “In the Mood for Love.” In contrast to the harsh lines of the low-slung furniture, the rich colors and elaborately patterned wallpaper bring a homey feeling to the room in which Chow Mo-wan and Su Li-shen spend so much time.

Thinking of redecorating your bedroom in a “Gone With the Wind” style? Glamour is the name of the game. Think velvet curtains, gold accents, plush cushions, and floral-patterned wallpaper.

The relationship between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s characters in “By the Sea” may be a tense one, but the lavish bedroom that serves as the backdrop for much of the film’s action is anything but. Luminous gold touches and plush floral rugs are favorite aspects of the room, which was designed by Jon Hutman.

Sinister things may have taken place in the owner’s bedroom of the Lenox mansion, but there’s no denying it still manages to give off a majorly cozy vibe. Those feelings can be attributed to the massive California king bed and the atmospheric lighting created by the giant candelabras.

It seems safe to say that no one has ever had as opulent a bedroom as Marie Antionette. The extravagant bedchamber depicted in the film closely mirrors the one the real-life queen used in Versailles, France.

Typically, modern-day hotel bedrooms are anything but cozy. But this one, from “Ocean’s Thirteen,” feels more welcoming than all the rest thanks to its gold tufted wall.

Finally, the bedroom from Martin Scorsese’s 1995 hit “Casino” looks like a literal jewel box, making it the perfect place to store the fine jewelry Robert De Niro gifts Sharon Stone. Who wouldn’t want to fall asleep surrounded by luxurious fur, lace, and satin wallpaper?