What Is Sleep Hygiene?

Have you ever found yourself staring at your ceiling in the middle of the night and having a hard time falling asleep? Or, have you experienced waking up and thinking, “Time to get up!” only to discover it’s only 3 am?

Sleep is important for everyone, but an erratic sleeping schedule may be hindering you from getting the quality sleep you need. If you’ve tried and failed to get enough sleep, it’s probably time you pay attention to your sleep hygiene.

Why Is Sleep Hygiene Important?

Sleep hygiene refers to healthy habits so you experience the best quality sleep possible. Sleep problems are often reinforced by bad habits. Your dietary choices, schedule, and activities contribute to how much and how well you sleep. So, making adjustments to your lifestyle can all make the difference.

Everyone can create their own routine that suits their needs. By doing so, they can harness these good sleep hygiene habits to make it easier to sleep soundly at night and wake up well-rested.

Sleep is central to both physical and mental health, improved productivity, and overall quality of life. From children to adults, everyone stands to benefit from better sleep, and sleep hygiene has a key part in achieving that goal.

How to Practice Sleep Hygiene?

Because sleep hygiene is all about reinforcing good habits and developing healthy routines, practicing it is with virtually no risk and has little to no cost at all.

Here’s are a few sleep hygiene tips you can adapt to get the best sleep possible:

  • Set a sleep schedule
    Set a sleep schedule and commit to itA set schedule allows your brain and body to get accustomed to your sleep cycle. It can also help reduce your feeling sleepy during the day. Remember when scheduling your bedtime to allow 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

    • Wake-up at the same time every day
      Whether it’s a weekday or a weekend, practice having a fixed wake-up time. Having a consistent schedule keeps preserves your body’s natural rhythm.
    • Prioritize sleep
      Treat sleep as a priority. It can be tempting sometimes to sacrifice sleep for work, study, or partying, but as a consequence, you may end up with an erratic schedule. Always calculate your bedtime based on your fixed wake-up time, and strive to prepare for bed around that time every night.
    • Step-by-step adjustments
      If you need to shift your sleeping time, do it gradually and not in one fell swoop. Any changes in your schedule must be done step-by-step for up to an hour or two. That way you can properly adjust and settle into your new schedule.
    • Keep naps relatively short
      Naps can be a convenient way to recover and regain energy during the day, but it can also make it harder for you to fall asleep at night. If you do need a nap, keep it short. The ideal nap lasts for 15 to 30 minutes only. Also, don’t nap in the late afternoon; this can push back your bedtime.
  • Create a relaxing bedtime routine
    Switch to ambient lighting to facilitateA relaxing bedtime routine helps you cool down while you ready to sleep. It also informs your brain that it’s bedtime and may help you fall asleep more easily. The best time to start your routine is approximately 30 minutes to an hour before bed.

    • Be consistent
      When you create a routine, commit to it and do it consistently. Following the same steps, every night allows your mind to recognize that it is almost bedtime.
    • Dim your lights
      Bright lights prevent your body from producing melatonin, a hormone that facilitates sleep. If you are ready for bed, turn off your overhead lights and switch to ambient lighting. You can also close the curtains to block out street lights from entering your room.
    • Turn off electronic devices
      Electronic devices emit blue light, which also hinders melatonin production. This may make it harder for you to fall asleep. If possible, keep your phone away from the bed. The message notification sound, buzzing, and light can suddenly turn on in the middle of the night, interrupting your sleep.
    • Practice relaxation techniques
      A healthy mental connection can help you fall asleep much faster. Focus on relaxation. Don’t just toss and turn in bed when you can’t sleep. Practice relaxation techniques, such as meditation, mindfulness, and paced breathing, to put you in the right mindset.
  • Cultivate a healthy lifestyle
    Staying physically active can help you fall asleep fasterIt’s not just what you do before bed that affects your sleep. Your activity during the day has as much effect on your circadian rhythm as your bedtime habits.

    • Get daylight exposure
      Light, especially daylight exposure, has a critical effect on how you sleep. When exposed to sunlight, the body sends information and signals to the brain about the time of the day. Getting daylight exposure allows your circadian rhythm to be closely synchronized with sunrise and sunset.
    • Exercise regularly
      Exercise is not only good for your physical health but can also improve sleep. As little as 30-minute aerobic exercise can already do the trick. Just avoid any physical activity an hour or two before bedtime since this can increase your energy levels and body temperature. If you have to do some type of activity later in the day, limit it to a few stretches or yoga.
    • Don’t smoke
      Smoking is bad for your health and has been associated with several sleeping problems. Nicotine stimulates the body, which makes it harder for you to sleep.
    • Reduce alcohol and caffeine intake
      Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but once it wears off, it can disrupt your sleep later in the night. It’s best to control alcohol consumption and avoid intake late in the evening. Alternatively, caffeine is a stimulant that may block your body from feeling groggy. Best to avoid consuming it later in the day as well.
    • Avoid dining late
      When you eat a big, heavy, or spicy dinner late, it means your body is still digesting when it’s already time to sleep. The best time to eat dinner is 3 hours before bedtime to allow your stomach to properly digest and prepare for sleep. It is also advisable to only eat lighter food before bed.
    • Limit bedroom activities
      The bedroom should only be used for sleeping. Besides intercourse, other activities like working or studying should be done in other areas in the house. This helps strengthen your brain’s association of your bed with sleep.
  • Make your sleep environment as relaxing as possible
    Your environment and bedding choice affect how well you sleepProper sleep hygiene goes beyond mere routine. Your sleep environment is also a major component. If you want to doze off more quickly, your bedroom must be able to promote relaxation and comfort.

    • Set a comfortable temperature
      Set your bedroom temperature to suit your preferences. The best bedroom temperature for sleeping is approximately 65°F (or 18°C).
    • Block out possible sleep distractions
      There are several factors, like traffic noise or street lights, that can wake you up while you sleep. Prevent too much light from interrupting your sleep by using heavy curtains or an eye mask. You can also use earplugs or try a white noise machine if noise bothers you.
    • Use aromatherapy
      Light and calming scents, like lavender, may create a more calming atmosphere and can induce sleepiness.
    • Use pleasant bedding
      The sheets and blankets are your primary companions while you’re in bed. They need to be as comfortable as possible, have the right texture, and maintain the right temperature.
    • Choose your mattress wisely
      Your mattress is crucial to a comfortable and pain-free sleep. Make sure you select one that offers proper support and applies appropriate pressure dependent on your body weight and preferred sleeping position.

If you have a hard time falling or staying asleep, focus on improving your sleep hygiene. You can try several strategies to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep for hours.

One of the first steps is to get an excellent quality mattress. At Sleepmasters Canada, we have a wide selection of high-quality mattress that suits your needs. Call us at (416) 781 7441 and achieve the best sleep you’ve been dreaming of.

Pillow Top Mattresses: Cost, Benefits, All You need to Know

Today, buying a new mattress for your bed can prove to be a confusing endeavour. This because of the many types of mattresses that are available to shoppers in the country. For the past decades, pillow top mattresses have been overlooked as an option for buying a mattress. However, they have recently found resurgence as a type of mattress that can be relied upon for a good night’s sleep. 

Most of the time, most people looking to buy a mattress from an online store go with innerspring mattresses or memory foam mattresses. However, you should seriously start considering buying a pillow top mattress. The simple reason behind this advice is that these beds come with a lot of benefits and advantages that will be great for your health.

Over the course of this article, we will take a look at the benefits and unique features of a pillow top mattress. Also, we will explore the cost of a pillow top mattress and how you can buy the best one.

What is a Pillow Top Mattress?

A pillow top mattress is not far off your usual beds. In fact, a good number of people still classify pillow top mattresses as innerspring mattresses. By definition, they are beds with an additional padding layer sewn to the top. Typically, this extra layer is at least two inches thick. It’s also the reason why you can enjoy the benefits of a pillow top mattress in terms of comfort.

The additional layer on top of a pillowtop mattress can be made from a wide range of materials. Responsive materials such as down, latex and cotton can be used to make sure that you enjoy maximum comfort. Other options include polyurethane (regular) foam, memory foam and other fibers.

Most of the time, the underlying layers of a bed may be soft. However, one of the benefits of a pillowtop mattress is the extra layer which softens the feel of the bed. These beds are made for comfortable sleep!

What Kinds of Pillow Top Mattresses Can You Buy?

Depending on your needs, a pillowtop mattress can come in twin, king, queen and full sizes.

What is The Cost of a Pillowtop Mattress?

The cost of a king-sized pillowtop mattress in Canada sits at around $1,000 to $1,500. This affordability is chief among the benefits of a pillowtop bed — they are highly affordable. For comparison purposes, latex and memory foam mattresses can cost thousands of dollars.

However, it is important to note that the cost of pillow top mattresses is not an exact figure. Depending on the size of bed that you want, you may have to pay more for a pillowtop mattress. Other factors that can affect the pricing model for your bed include:

  • Material
  • Brand 
  • Quality 
  • Design

Benefits of Pillow Top Mattresses 

Are your wondering whether to buy a pillow top mattress? In this section, we will explore why buying this type of mattress is a great investment.

They are very affordable

This is top on the list of benefits of a pillowtop mattress. The cost of a pillowtop mattress is well worth the convenience that you will enjoy. Other types of mattresses that are associated with comfort are expensive compared to a pillow top model.

It offers maximum comfort 

One of the features of a pillowtop mattress is that it can adjust to the contours of your body. This is important as it means that the pressure points on your body will be fully supported. Forgive the clichè but with support like this, you will definitely sleep like a baby.

Furthermore, the contouring effect of a pillowtop mattress means reduced disturbing motion during sleep. These beds are designed to absorb all forms of motion. Therefore, if you have a restless partner, you no longer have to worry about waking up due to their sleep-induced movements. Enjoy an disturbed night of sleep!

Reduces back and body pain

Another major benefit of a pillowtop mattress is the extra support it offers for the spine. In addition, it does this while contouring to the hips, shoulders and back. As a result, you will enjoy an extra cushioning effect that alleviated body pain.

Compared to traditional mattresses, a pillowtop model is designed to help relieve. At the affordable prices these beds are sold, this is an absolute plus!

Soft feel

Most mattresses that can provide the same level of support as a pillowtop model are extra firm. However, reverse is the case for these type of mattresses. In fact, it is one of the popular advantages to buying a pillow top mattress.

A pillowtop mattress has a soft cushiony feel that is a recipe for a great night of sleep. However, this doesn’t mean that your pressure points are not well taken care of. You can expect maximum support from your pillowtop bed.

Long-Lasting

This type of mattress tends to last longer than a conventional mattress. The reason behind this feature is the ability of a pillowtop bed to return to its original shape after a night of sleep. Therefore, there is no need to flip over your mattress after a couple of years of usage. 

Basically, this type of mattress is made to last. Also, the rate of wear and tear is extremely low. Therefore, you can rest assured of the ability to make use of it for a long time to come.

Environmental friendly

Despite the affordable cost of a pillowtop mattress, they are still environmentally friendly. A pillow top model is less likely to give off harmful chemicals in the form of gas.

Conclusion

There are many benefits that you can enjoy from buying a pillow top mattress. As long as you buy a quality product from an online mattress store, you can enjoy the use of your mattress for a long time to come. 

Here at Sleep Masters, we sell high-quality mattresses that guarantee a good night’s sleep. Buying one for yourself is as easy as taking a look at our online mattress store. Alternatively, you can call 416 781 7441 or send an email to [email protected] if you need more help with buying a mattress. Sleep well!