Ah, youth! When you're young, who's got time to sleep? And when you finally wanted to go to sleep, it came fast and got deep. Remember those days? If you don't, it might just be because you haven't had a good night's sleep in a while. Just sayin'.
We all have things on our minds. We all have stress in our lives. But did you know that matching your mattress to your own particular sleep habits can help you get a good night's rest?
Match your mattress to your sleep profile
You don't need a sleep study to figure out how well or how badly you sleep through the night. If you're not waking up refreshed and ready to take on the world, something's wrong. It might not even be something obvious. It might just be that you like to sleep on your side, but your mattress is not made for it.
Are you getting enough Slow Wave Sleep (SWS)?
According to the NIH: "Deep non rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, also known as Slow Wave Sleep (SWS), is considered to be the most restorative sleep stage and to be associated with sleep quality and the maintenance of sleep."
Are you a light sleeper?
If you describe yourself as a light sleeper, you might not be getting the restorative benefits of deeper sleep. Please don't kid yourself; you need more than light sleep.
Sleep deprivation is more common than you think
Most of us know waking up several times in the middle of the night is a sure sign you're not getting enough sleep. However, we don't realize that tossing and turning in bed lowers the quality of sleep so much that it can bring on the same health issues as sleep deprivation. In other words, even if you don't wake up all the way, you might still be suffering from a sleep disorder.
Is your bed a bounce house?
If you sleep alone, you're in the clear, but if you sleep with someone else in bed, it's no fun being bounced awake in the middle of the night because someone forgot to get a glass of water. Even a furry friend sleeping in your bed can wake you up when they move around if you have an overly springy mattress.
Getting rid of that cramped feeling
It's not you, it's your bed.
When it comes to mattresses, size absolutely matters. If you're worried about unintentionally crowding your sleeping partner when you turn over, your bed's too small. Why fight it? A good night's sleep is much too important.
Don't try to change the way you sleep, just change your bed.
Is your bed boring?
Maybe you need to try a different sleeping position with an adjustable base bed. Hospitals figured this out a long time ago.
Raising your knees a little can ease the pressure on your lower back. Raising your torso can help your circulation. Lying flat on your back is fine, but you might be missing some advantages. If you've ever fallen asleep in a recliner, you already know how good a rest you can get in an adjustable bed.
Some people with leg cramping in the middle of the night and restless leg syndrome find relief by elevating their legs with an adjustable bed base.
Do you travel for work or do shift work?
If so, you may be having your circadian rhythm disrupted. Some people are familiar with this concept under the more common name, biological clock. NIH describes circadian rhythm as the following:
"Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. These natural processes respond primarily to light and dark and affect most living things, including animals, plants, and microbes. Chronobiology is the study of circadian rhythms."
Simply put, your sleeping waking cycle is important to your physical and mental health. Therefore, ignoring your circadian rhythm over the long term can develop unwanted issues.
"I have no problem falling asleep. Staying asleep is a different matter."
This is a pretty good sign it's worth looking into a different mattress. You're tired enough and relaxed enough to fall asleep, and then something is waking you up. It might be a sore back or poor circulation. It might be that the position you're increasing your chance of snoring.
There might be a ton of reasons why you're not a heavy sleeper. Some of them might be complex and difficult to rectify. Going to a local expert retailer to try a new mattress couldn't be easier.
What's your sleep routine?
Do you start to wind down your activities a few hours before bed? For example, do you lower the lights at least 90 minutes before your regular bedtime?
Are you giving your mind and body consistent signals that it's time for sleep? It doesn't really matter your particular routine as long as you have one.
Why a refresher is a good idea
If it's been a few years since you've shopped around for a mattress, you'd be shocked at what's available today. There are so many new advancements, so many new features, so many new technologies you'll be able to find the perfect one specially designed for your specific needs. The options are endless: a cooling hybrid mattress, a motion-isolating foam mattress, or a giant 10-foot wide family bed.
Be comfortable with a new level of comfort from your bed
Take your time finding the right bed and mattress. Sleep is too important. Come into the Bedding Mart and ask our experts all the questions you want!
Be open to new solutions you've never thought of before and new comfort levels you might not be immediately comfortable with. Then, when you learn more about the science behind these new sleeping solutions and how many hundreds of thousands of people benefit from them, you'll sleep like a baby.
