You have had a long day at work; you are tired. You get home, shower, don your PJs, and can’t wait to hit the sack. You also relegate your phone to the nightstand and turn off the telly, to get a good night’s sleep just like the experts recommend you to do for optimal sleep. But, when your head finally hits the pillow, you struggle to fall asleep. You toss and turn all night long, struggling to lull yourself to sleep.
Your mattress may be the culprit!
According to experts, your sleep surface is critical to sleep quality but is in most cases overlooked. People pop sleeping pills or opt for over-the-counter drugs without even considering what they are actually sleeping on. What you sleep on can make a world of difference when it comes to sleep quality. A recent study was able to prove that new bedding systems alleviate pain, stiffness, and sleep comfort across a group of 62 men and women when compared to their old beds (which, on an average, were well over 7 years old).
Though your mattress remains hidden under sheets and comforters, it is subjected to nightly wear and tear. Most people spend about 2,555 hours in bed every year on average. If you multiply that number by 7 years (average life expectancy of a mattress), you spend close to 17,885 hours in bed. Like most other things, mattresses too, break down to constant use and fail to render support as they grow older.
Hence it becomes imperative to change your mattress regularly. But how to know when to change your mattress? Here’s a handy guide for you.
#1. Waking up isn’t just tough, it’s awfully painful.
We have all woken up at least a dozen times in our lives feeling blue and sore. But, if you are waking up to shooting pain in your shoulders, back, lower back, and neck, your mattress may not be doing its job of supporting your body while you sleep. Since mattresses are one of the most utilized items in any household, they wear out with time and use. Mattresses lose their ability to support your body as they age. If your mattress is brand new, and you still wake up with aches and pains, you may be sleeping on a mattress that is either too firm or soft for you.
#2. One lump or many?
If you were asked to describe your mattress in one word in a rapid-fire round, and you uttered saggy or lumpy, instead of cozy, it is time you start looking for a mattress replacement. If you suffer from mild to excruciating body pain after a few hours on your mattress, you must inspect it for lumps and uneven indentations. If you find that the indentations are over 1.5 inches deep, do not procrastinate. Simply buy a mattress online.
#3. You sneeze more and snooze less
With time, mattresses tend to collect allergens, unless you have a great mattress protector. It makes sense that you do not wait until the end of your mattress life to buy a new one. If sleeping on your mattress causes you to sneeze and itch all night long, it is a clear indication that you must swap your old mattress for a new one.
#4. You sleep better at a hotel than in your home
Sleeping away from home doesn’t come easy to many. Most people take a while to get acclimatized to new surroundings and sounds. But if you find that you are able to sleep better away from your own mattress at home, it may be time for you to consider why. Changing the mattress could be the solution you are looking for.
These are but a few of the many signs that you need to bounce your old bed in favor of a new one. Within days after you change your mattress, you will find yourself back in dreamland. So, what are you waiting for? Start mattress shopping today!
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