Sleep right, starting tonight

If you’re not getting the shut-eye you need, the culprit may be lurking under your covers – your mattress. You spend a third of your life in bed and how well you sleep directly affects your physical and mental health.

It’s time to go mattress shopping if you answer yes to any of the following questions:

• Do you wake up stiff or achy?
• Do you sleep better in someone else’s bed or at a hotel?
• Does your mattress have lumps and/or valleys that make it difficult to find a comfortable spot?
• Are there tears in the outer fabric or springs sticking out?
• Is your mattress 5-7 years old?

Buying a new mattress is a big deal. For most people, comfort is the decision maker but support, durability and health issues are equally important. If you have chemical sensitivities, asthma or fibromyalgia, it’s time to start asking questions – lots.

Comfort

Lying on a mattress is the only way to get an honest feel for it because one manufacturer’s firm is another’s medium/firm – or extra/firm. But after the 10^th lie-down, they all start to feel the same, right? Pick a focus point – your shoulder, lower back or your hips – and gauge how the mattress feels there. And lie on it like you lie on your mattress at home. A side sleeper needs extra cushioning in the hip and shoulder, but a back sleeper may need more lumbar support.

Support or firmness?

Our parents assumed the best way to maintain a healthy spine was to sleep on a mattress that doubled as a slab of concrete. Firmness is not support though. Recent studies show medium/firm mattresses buffer pressure points, which allows your muscles to relax and aligns your spine naturally. Your spine isn’t naturally straight and supporting its curves will rejuvenate and revitalize you.

Can’t find a mattress that meets all your needs? Natura’s wide range of latex foam mattresses will allow you to customize your mattress for the best possible sleep environment.

Durability

What your mattress is made of and the quality of workmanship will determine its lifespan – not the warranty. Over time, mattresses gradually lose the ability to buffer pressure points and support the spine properly – the warranty protects against defects in workmanship and materials. The Better Sleep Council recommends buying a new mattress every 5-7 years.

If you’re ready for a new mattress, start your research online. Bookmark sites you find helpful and then get yourself to a brick and mortar store where you can lie on mattresses and talk to a sales professional.

Love to chat it up about sleep, health or environmental ingenuity? Us too! Join in the conversation and fun of our Facebook and Twitter communities. We’d love to say good morning!

Find a Natura Retailer near you and improve your sleep.