A good night’s sleep is essential to our daily productivity, so finding a comfortable mattress is important. Have you been
lacking the sleep that you need? Maybe it’s time for a new mattress. According to The Better Sleep Council it may be time
for a new mattress if:
- Your mattress is five to seven years old.
- You wake up in the morning with pain, stiffness and aches.
- Your mattress shows signs of wear and tear such as lumps or sags.
- When you sleep away from home, you achieve a better night’s sleep.
How to Select a New Mattress
A mattress should be the most comfortable piece of furniture you purchase, so finding one that suits your needs can be challenging. According to The Better Sleep Council, the best way to shop for a mattress is to do a SLEEP test:
Select a mattress
Lie down in your sleep position
Evaluate the level of comfort and support
Educate yourself about each selection
Partners should try each mattress together
After you select your mattress:
Consider having it professionally delivered: Although strapping it to the roof of your car may seem like a good
money-saver (and exciting highway adventure), the mattress can easily get damaged during transit through ripping,
tearing or weather-related incidents.
Don’t remove the tag: Removing that tag isn’t really against the law, but the tag contains identification information
that you’ll need should you ever file a warranty claim.
Let it breathe: Take the mattress out of its protective plastic to let it “breathe” for a few hours before covering it with
pads, sheets or blankets.
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Make Getting ZZZs a Breeze
Before Thomas Edison’s invention of the light bulb, people slept an average of ten hours a night; today,
Americans average about seven hours of sleep on weeknights and seven-and-a-half hours on weekend nights
(2002 Sleep in America poll).
The National Sleep Foundation offers the following tips for getting a better night’s sleep:
- Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule including weekends.
- Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading
a book or listening to soothing music.
- Make your bedroom a sanctuary—don’t work or do other stressful activities there.
- Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.
- Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.
- Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.
- Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime.
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol close to bedtime.
- If you have sleep problems, use a sleep diary and talk to your doctor. Note what type of sleep problem
is affecting your sleep or if you are sleepy when you wish to be awake and alert.
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