Less Coffee? No Dessert? Serta Simmons Bedding Unveils The Things People Would Give Up for a Better Night’s Rest and More Insights on Americans’ Sleep Habits

By JD Velilla, Head of Sleep Experience at Serta Simmons Bedding

As a self-proclaimed “sleep nerd,” I geek out when it comes to talking to people about how to get a good night of sleep. Here at Serta Simmons Bedding, we are all about helping people sleep better so they can live healthier lives.

Timed to Sleep Awareness Month, we recently commissioned a study with OnePoll* to understand Americans’ sleep habits and discovered several interesting findings, including:

• The Average Bedtime is 10:00 p.m. – That said, those who claim they have “excellent” sleep prefer to hit the hay a little earlier at 9:39 p.m. When looking at different generations, Millennials are the most likely to go to bed the earliest at 9:49 p.m., followed by Generation X and Baby Boomers.
• People Aren’t Sleeping Well Right Now – Only two in five people rate their quality of sleep as “excellent” (41%). And less than a third of adults feel refreshed when waking up in the morning, even after getting the recommended amount of sleep (30%).
• They Are Willing to Sacrifice to Get Better Sleep – 43% of respondents said they would give up coffee for better sleep, and 30% would sacrifice dessert.
• Falling Asleep Can Be Tough – Two in three have trouble falling asleep thinking about everything they must do the next day. What likely keeps people up at night is being worried about their family (42%) or work (41%).

With so many challenges tied to achieving a good night’s rest, I’m often asked for tips on how to sleep better. Here are a few:

• Stick to a Sleep Schedule – Our bodies crave consistency. Many people go to sleep and wake up at different times from day to day, but consistency can fundamentally improve sleep quality. To create an impactful sleep routine, I suggest starting with what time you need to wake up, then counting back 7.5 hours (or five 90-minute sleep cycles) from there to determine your ideal bedtime.
• Know Your Chronotype – Night owls and early birds have different peak productivity times. Also, their respective biological rhythms impact their sleep/wake schedules. Ideally, you can plan your day based on chronotype to maximize productivity and get better rest.
• Find Your Sleep Routine – Sleep routines can extend beyond simple bedtimes to encompass nightly habits that prepare our mind and body for sleep. To unwind for bed, our study found that most people take under half an hour to complete their nightly routine like brushing their teeth (45%), completing their skincare regimen (41%) and watching TV (38%). Sleep routines can also encompass anything that enables people to relax before bed, from dimming the lights or lighting a candle.
• Make Your Bedroom a Recovery Room – Seven in 10 Americans said they need their nighttime environment to be a certain way to get their best sleep (71%), according to our study. For example, our study found that getting shuteye in a silent room (31%) with some light on (72%) contributes to “excellent” sleep.
• When All Else Fails, Take A Nap – Even after we find the best sleep schedule, refine our sleep routine, and create the ideal sleep environment, we all may encounter restless nights from time to time. Our survey found that, while the average person wakes up twice a night, more than a quarter (29%) of those who have “bad” sleep find themselves wide awake at least five times a night. But there is still an easy way to catch up on rest. After a suboptimal night of sleep, 30 minutes of napping can be a short yet refreshing way to get through the next day.

As you can see, there are many factors that can negatively impact sleep, but having the right gear shouldn’t be one of them. At Serta Simmons Bedding, we offer a wide range of products across our brands – from an assortment of mattresses (Serta Arctic and the Beautyrest Harmony Lux lines are two of my favorites) to bedding and accessories – to provide consumers with everything they need for their personalized sleep journey.

And don’t forget: if you don’t have a great night of sleep, you always have another night ahead of you to try again.

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*Study surveyed 2,000 Americans on their sleep habits.