How to Sleep Better for National Bed Month

Throughout March it’s National Bed Month, an annual awareness campaign set up by the Sleep Council to raise awareness of how important a good, comfortable bed is in helping to achieve a good night’s sleep.

Comfort – whether that’s the bed you sleep in, the environmental factors in your room, or how you feel physically and mentally – all play a huge part in getting a good night’s sleep. A good starting point is to ensure you have a comfortable and supportive mattress with the right duvet and pillows to suit your needs.

Did you know that we spend, on average, one-third of our lives in bed? So we should make sure our bed is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible! Below we have created a small guide on things to consider when creating the perfect bed for slumber.

Beware of The Wrong Mattress – it is crucial to find the right mattress that enables you to get the right support for your back as well as the right comport level to help achieve a great night’s sleep. It important to note that there’s not one miracle mattress suitable for all – some of us will require something softer whereas others will benefit from firmness. Make sure to choose one that meets your personal criteria for support and comfort – try before you buy!

Perfect Pillows – when it comes to sleep quality, pillows are just as important as choosing the right mattress. Are you sleeping on a worn-out, deflated pillow? Folding it every night to get comfortable? Then it’s time to update. It’s recommended that pillows should be replaced every 18 months (3 years for memory foam). The best pillow for sleep is one that is comfortable to rest your head on, as well as supports your head, neck and shoulders.

Find the Perfect Fabric – bedding comes in a variety of different fabrics, each with a different level of comfort and feel to suit your needs. The four most common are cotton, linen, poly-blend and silk. Here’s more detail on each

• Cotton – cotton is known for its durability, versatility and breathability so ideal for luxury bed linen
• Linen – renowned for its ability to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Although easily creased, it is beautifully soft which improved with every wash.
• Poly blend – a mixture of cotton fibres and polyester – popular due to its level of comfort and ease to care for
• Silk – one of the more expensive choices, silk is hypo-allergenic with the ability to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. This material is much more delicate and therefore not ideal for family households.

Are allergies keeping you awake? - allergies affect over 20 million adults in the UK, with suffers symptoms sometimes worsening in the bedroom. House dust mites are a common trigger for allergic reactions and the hub for these mites is often your bed. This isn’t surprising when you consider the amount of skin a person sheds and the amount we sweat in the night. Combined, this creates a breeding ground for mites. Airing the bed each morning, washing your mattress protectors, pillows and sheets will help to eliminate these conditions and decrease the spread of bacteria.

Pre-bedtime ritual – it’s important to prepare your body and mind for rest which is why a pre-bedtime ritual can do wonders for your sleep. Great ways to relax include warm baths with calming scents, relaxing music, yoga, reading a book or listening to a podcast. Another key factor is to turn off electrical devices and dim the lights in order to increase the need for sleep. Have something on your mind? A sleep journal is a great way to help unburden stress or negative thoughts.