How to get your Best Night’s Sleep

Did you know the average person will spend around a third of their life asleep? Getting a good night’s rest is crucial for both our physical and mental health and falling short of sleep can take a serious toll on your energy levels, productivity and even weight. Yet many of us regularly toss and turn at night, leaving us feeling frustrated and tired the next day. Read on to learn our top tips to getting the best night’s sleep.

The science of sleep

The amount of sleep you need depends on various factors including your age, health and sex. However, in general, most healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. During this we enter various stages of sleep, starting with light sleep and getting progressively deeper throughout the night. Our deepest stage of sleep, known as REM sleep, is when dreaming occurs. Whilst we are sleeping our bodies make repairs and work to replenish our energy stores, whilst our minds organise and store memories from the night before. In order to feel refreshed the next day it’s important for us to experience all stages of sleep throughout various cycles…feeling tired the next day indicates we experienced fewer cycles of sleep the night before!

Factors which affect how well you sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep can be affected by a lot of different things, including stress, diet, physical health, and even certain medications. General guidelines suggest avoiding stimulants that contain caffeine 8 hours before bed, reducing your use of electronic devices right before sleeping, and sticking to regular eating and sleep/wake times. Following this advice can help to make sure your daytime activities don’t interfere with your ability to nod off.  However, our sleeping environment can also be extremely important in determining how well we sleep. Making sure the bedroom is cool, dark and quiet can improve the quality of our sleep as can sleeping on a comfortable, supportive bed.

Why the right bed is so important

Your bed is by far one of the most important elements in getting a good night’s rest. Lumpy old mattresses lacking in comfort and support are likely to increase the chances of you waking in the night and leave you waking up feeling tired and achy. This is why the Sleep Council recommend replacing your mattress every eight years, especially if you start to suffer with some of the problems mentioned. Also, not only do our mattresses experience wear and tear, but our bodies change as we age meaning our bed requirements do too. As everyone’s unique, different beds suit different people. It’s important to select the right mattress for you, offering the right amount of comfort and support for your weight and build and if you’re sharing a bed with someone, your partners too. With so many different options available you may find yourself becoming overwhelmed and confused….Working out whether to choose between Pocket Springs, Memory Foam and different types of pillows can often feel like working your way out of a maze, which is why it’s best to always speak with an expert first!  

Finding the right bed for you

Clued up on the latest sleep-tech and advancements in the industry, our Sleep Specialists are here to support you in making the right choice and finding the bed that’s exactly right for you.

Their number one tip is to ‘try before you buy’. In doing this they can observe how the mattress fits around your body and will be able to ask you questions regarding how comfortable you truly feel. Every individual is unique and different, so each bed purchase is completely tailored to the individual. Providing a sleep solution involves understanding the customer, how you interact with the product, and what will suit your lifestyle best! While some may be more supported by a firm memory foam mattress that moulds around the shape of their body, for others a softer mattress with springs may be better. That’s why it’s important to test out the mattress as well as the base to ensure it’s a comfortable fit for you. Whilst lying on the mattress ensure you’re not able to fit your hand between your lower back and the mattress as this will indicate a poor fit. Whilst wearing comfortable soft clothing test out the bed for comfort, firmness and support by assuming different sleeping positions typical to your usual pattern.

 

One piece of advice is to try and find something similar to what you’re used to; or have already owned for a few years. This way it will take less time to adjust to your new mattress. However, if your old mattress isn’t working for you anymore then our Sleep Specialists can help uncover the causes of your restless nights and find the solution that’s exactly right for you. Often, the higher the price-tag, the higher the overall quality of the bed you are purchasing, and this should be considered when making this worthwhile investment into your future night’s sleep. However, trying out a range of beds is crucial to finding the right bed that suits your preferences. Ultimately when it comes to finding the right bed for you, comfort should always come first. Finding something that makes you comfortable and relaxed is priority to ensure you get that great night’s sleep you’ve always dreamed of.

With one of the largest selections of beds in the UK and an unrivalled depth-of knowledge, you can count on finding your perfect night’s sleep at Cookes. Come along, check out the choice, speak to our Sleep Specialists and uncover the secrets to enjoying a wonderfully restful night, every night.

 

28th February 2020

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