- Frequently turning your mattress could prolong its life and better your sleep, as half of Brits admit to never flipping their mattress
- Early morning aches in the lower back, neck, and shoulders are signs your mattress needs replacing
- 81% of Brits admit to not flipping their mattress enough – meaning they could be losing sleep
A good night’s sleep is just as important for our physical and mental health as regular exercise and a healthy diet, but one of the key determining factors of good sleep is the mattress you sleep on. A recent study has revealed that overlooking mattress quality could result in a loss of as much as two hours sleep per night.
Sleepless Brits have taken to Google in a bid to improve sleeping habits, with searches for ‘how to sleep better’ spiking by 108% on average, every night at around three am.
In collaboration with the sleep and wellness expert, Dave Gibson, founder of thesleepsite.co.uk, retailer Next has uncovered five lesser-known tips for enhancing quality of sleep, the signs to look for when it’s time to upgrade a mattress and how a poor quality mattress can impact more than just sleep.
The five-step method to choosing the perfect mattress for your sleep style
According to Dave; “Given how long we spend in bed, it is surprising how little time consumers typically take to research and buy a new mattress, my recommendations would be:
- Always go into the store to try a mattress if possible. Start by doing some online research as to which type of mattresses naturally suit your sleeping pattern and position.
- Ask the staff in-store which they think best suits your needs and budget.
- Take your shoes off and lie on the mattress in your preferred sleeping position for at least 20 minutes.
- If you prefer to lie on your side when sleeping, get your partner or a member of staff to photograph you so you can see if the mattress supports your spine in the correct, level alignment.
- Try to buy a mattress that is the perfect one for you, despite the price.”
Dave also explains why couples should be more aware of mattress size to guarantee a good night’s sleep when sharing a bed;
“When sleeping as a couple it’s vital to get the size of the mattress correct as much as the quality. In fact, for couples sleeping in a double bed, this equates to the same amount of space each, as a baby would have in a cot. To enjoy an equal amount of space on a mattress as though sleeping alone in a single bed, a couple would need to sleep in a super king-size bed.”
A poor-quality mattress can rob you of up to two hours of sleep every night
A restless night’s sleep often consists of tossing and turning because of discomfort, which can result in losing up to two hours of sleep every night.
“These days a lot of us are getting less than the seven to nine hours of recommended sleep. So, a poor-quality mattress can rob you of priceless rest and recovery from a low base. If you are tossing and turning a lot you may be losing anywhere between one to two hours of sleep.
“Once we get to sleep, the body starts to relax and rejuvenate during the night. Whilst we can often get to sleep relatively quickly with an uneven mattress, once we are unnaturally awakened later in the night, we aren’t as tired. This means we find it harder to get back to sleep the ‘second time around’ so to speak.”
Rotating your mattress regularly can prolong its life, but half of Brits admit they have never done so
Investing in a good quality custom size mattress comes with a price tag, but knowing how to prolong its life is the key to seeing a good return on your investment through sustained, healthy sleep.
Additional data from Next reveals that more than three-quarters (77%) of Brits sleep on the same side of the bed each night, which can lead to dents, uneven mattress wear, and ultimately a not-so-great night’s sleep, according to Healthline.
Dave confesses that one way to avoid uneven mattress wearing and to prolong the life and quality of your mattress is to rotate it regularly. Yet, half (47%) of Brits admit to never doing so.
“Some mattresses require frequent flipping to maintain the quality of the fillers, whilst others can stay as is for around three months. Typically, it’s the two-sided pocket sprung mattresses that will need more care as they have layers of fillers on top of the springs which can settle into the corners of the mattresses. Turning them increases comfort and mattress life.”
The telling sign that your mattress needs replacing, and how it could be impacting more than just your sleep
While there are a few indicators that may suggest your mattress is due for an upgrade, one way to determine for sure is by simply sitting on it.
“One way of checking if your mattress needs replacing is to sit on the edge of it. Then if it collapses by more than 50% it needs to be replaced.”
A broken night’s sleep is not the only symptom of a worn-out mattress, as Dave reveals the most common signs that show your mattress could be causing pain and stiffness in your neck, shoulders, and back.
“Typically, the most obvious way you can track your back pain back to your mattress is when you sleep perfectly relaxed and pain-free, and then awake in the morning with pain in the lower back or your neck or your shoulders (or all three). Early morning stiffness can also be a sign that all is not well with your mattress.
“You may find that your pain is increased when lying in your bed and then relieved when walking around. However, this may also be due to stiffness in your lower back or neck. Frequent nightly interruptions can also be a sign that you need a new mattress, as well as tossing and turning to find a comfortable spot when normally your sleep is calm and restful.”
Explore a wide range of mattresses to suit every sleep style online at Next.