There
are few things in life that are better than waking up on a beautiful
sunny day after a great night’s sleep. How often does that happen
for you — once a week? Maybe a couple of times a month? If you’re
struggling to think of the last time you had a restful snooze, then
you might want to think about how your bedding is affecting your
sleep.
Many
of us need to have specific surroundings to help us sleep well, so we
might have already taken care of our daily routine to help us prepare
for our nightly slumber. If you haven’t given your bed (and your
bedding) a second thought recently, then here are some suggestions on
what you could do.
Think
About Your Sheets
You
may know that having your bedroom at the correct temperature is
important to get a good night’s sleep, but it’s also recommended
that you choose natural, breathable fabrics for your sheets
(as well as your nightwear, such as pyjamas). You should also think
about how often you wash your sheets, too: washing them once a week
will rid them of any trapped dust that may be making them hotter.
Check
Your Pillow
The
perfect pillow should keep
your spine and neck in a straight line.
This will help you to avoid any tension or cramps that can be
stopping you from getting to sleep. Ask someone such as your spouse
to check how your head and neck is aligned when you’re in the start
sleeping position; if your neck is flexed back or raised, then you
should think about getting a pillow that lets you sleep in a better
position.
There
are many different types of pillow fillings from which to choose,
including goose down. Pillows from Hamvay-Lang,
for example, use 800 fill power white Hungarian goose down, with
sateen shells that look and feel great. These shells also include
silver, which inhibits bacterial and fungal growth.
How’s
Your Mattress?
The
wrong mattress — or one that’s too old — could be causing
you more than just pain in your neck or lower back. One study found
that new beds led to a reduction in stress, possibly because of
increased sleep quality and decreased pain associated with a firmer
set-up.
You could also be allergic to
dust mites, which feed on the dead skin cells we shed naturally —
and which are also found on, and in, your bed. If these are a
problem, then clean your mattress with a vacuum cleaner. You may also
need to get a new mattress if there are obvious signs it’s time to
replace it, such as a spring sticking into the small of your back.
Yet if you aren’t sleeping as well as you used to (and you sleep
better when you’re away from home), then it might be time to get a
new one.
You
should spend time testing your mattress before making a purchase.
That’s because there’s no standard definition of what’s a firm
or soft mattress. What’s firm to one person, may be soft to
another.
CONVERSATION