There’s nothing worse than needing a good night’s sleep and finding yourself tossing and turning all night long while you try to get comfortable.
What’s worse is waking up the next morning, agitated by your lack of sleep, only to be greeted by a nagging backache.
Knocking yourself out with a chamomile tea (or a whole bottle of wine) may be a good short-term fix, but often it’s only going to last as long as the first couple of hours.
Search for a More Permanent Solution
If you are searching for a more permanent solution to this recurrent issue, perhaps you need to consider the possibility that your mattress may be the culprit and the primary source of your nightly discomfort.
A good night’s sleep is so heavily dependent on the quality of your mattress, but while we’re only too happy to spend money on things like cars, clothes and going out for dinners, too often your mattress falls by the wayside.
It is common knowledge that a good night’s sleep significantly contributes to our overall well-being.
According to Arya Nick Shamie, MD, associate professor of orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Centre, the mattress needs to support your body in a neutral position.
This means that your spine has a nice curvature and your buttocks, heels, shoulders, and head are supported in proper alignment.
Make your Personal Wellbeing a Priority
If specialists are alerting us to the importance of mattress support and its direct influence on our physical well-being, perhaps it is time to make your personal well-being a priority and invest in a mattress that will have your back for years to come.
After all, you spend up to ten hours a night having a good old kip, so why wouldn’t you make sure your sleeping surface is one of exceptional quality?
The best way to choose a new mattress is to firstly identify your sleeping style, as this will determine the type of support you require and subsequently the mattress type that is best suited for you.
Position Yourself For Success
Do you sleep on your stomach, your back or your side? The different ways of sleeping determine what kind of mattress you need (and to a certain extent, the kind of pillow – but more on that later) and will influence what you buy.
- If you’re a side sleeper you’ll probably need to lean towards a soft mattress, as a softer mattress is going to lend support and contouring to your body’s curves.
- If you happen to sleep on your back, you’ll need to get yourself a medium support mattress as you need maximum support for your spine, back and neck, while still keeping you nice and comfortable. Back sleepers need to make sure they get the right kind of pillow for their needs as well.
- Tummy sleepers need to get themselves a firm mattress so that their spines are aligned for the whole time they’re on the bed.
Good Mattress Needs a Good Pillow
The right mattress also needs to be accompanied by the right pillow to ensure that the combination of sleeping style and mattress is being carried through the whole way.
No matter which way you choose to sleep, or if you roll around like a tumbleweed throughout the night, you need to ensure one cardinal rule is being adhered to: The spine MUST be straight the whole time.
This rule, so long as it’s followed, will ensure that your sleep is restful, and that when you wake, your back is still in excellent condition. Failure to adhere to this rule may result in persistent back aches and long-term problems that can lead to all sorts of issues, from sleep deprivation to time off from work due to pain or injury.
Invest in a Good Mattress
A good night’s sleep is something that should be available to everyone, no matter whether they’re sleeping on a tatami mat or on a plush and pillow-topped, all-duck down mattress direct from the store.
The most vital part of choosing your mattress is conducting research into the various mattress types and their compatibility, based on your needs. Before leaping to purchase a mattress based on great price, you should consider it an investment in your wellbeing.
That, of course, is priceless. Give yourself the benefit of a good night’s sleep and watch the rest of your life change as a result, just from following a couple of simple tips.
