Waking up feeling refreshed after a great night’s sleep is something we all dream of (pardon the pun). However, most of us are making common mistakes that are preventing us from getting top-quality rest – making us more likely to wake up heavy-headed rather than fresh-faced.
Here at Sealy UK, we reveal five common mistakes that are impacting our slumber:
1. Technology in the bedroom
According to our recent survey, one-in-three of us are disturbed at night by our partner using a mobile device. As well as the disruptive notifications throughout the night from texts and emails, the blue light emitted by screens on our phones, tablets and TVs impacts our levels of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.
Allow yourself a tech-free zone for 30 minutes before bed and you’ll prevent technology having a negative impact on your sleep and ensure a better night’s rest.
2. Having a night-cap
While a nice glass of wine might be an enjoyable way to de-stress at the end of a long day, alcohol can have a negative impact on our rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is often considered the most restorative stage of sleep. This means you’re more likely to wake up feeling unrested and drowsy.
3. The snooze button
We’ve all been guilty of pressing ‘snooze’ on our alarms to give us those precious 10 more minutes in bed. However, by dozing off for those extra minutes, we’re preparing our bodies for another sleep cycle, which is then quickly interrupted – causing us to feel fatigued for the rest of the day that lies ahead.
4. Sharing your bed with your pet
While it may be tempting to let our beloved pet snooze with us in our lovely comfy bed, this is actually likely to lead to a poorer night’s rest. Not only are pets likely to disturb you in the night, they can also bring allergens into the bedroom. This can cause irritation and inflammation of the nose, as well as breathing problems during the night.
5. Having a messy bedroom
The environment in which you sleep can play a huge part in the quality of your slumber. While a comfy and supportive mattress is crucial to helping you rest, so too are your surroundings. In fact, studies have shown that those who have a messy and cluttered bedroom have a worse night’s sleep due to increased stress levels – compared to those that keep their room nice and tidy.
Quite often people also underestimate the impact a poor mattress can have on their quality of slumber. The wrong type of mattress for your weight or sleeping position, broken springs, sagging foam – can all result in poor sleep quality. A common mistake is not investing in the place you spend a large chunk of your life resting and recuperating. To find out how Sealy could help you get a superb night’s sleep, see our full product list here.
