Do you want to get a good night’s sleep more than anything? Do you wish you could just crash like you did when you were 16? Do you toss and turn or wake up feeling stiff?
If yes, you’re not alone. The number estimates vary, but it’s safe to say that more American adults have trouble sleeping than not. It’s an epidemic.
We are, after all, one of the most stressed-out, workaholic societies in human history. As we wrote in our
These days there are all kinds of creative sleep apps on the market and, in the bedding world, there’s now a new smart mattress cover that can monitor your bedtime, adjust temperature, lock your doors, play music, wake you up strategically and even start your coffee pot!
As our world gets smarter and smarter, people rely on gadgets to get things done…and even to sleep better. We at Urban Mattress often share news about these via Facebook and Twitter.
But, although those apps and mattress cover can be super cool, we believe smart sleep is more about minimizing stress and maximizing basic comforts in your lifestyle than having the latest and greatest electronic innovation.
If you made a New Year’s resolution to take better care of yourself, here are some smart, timeless things you can do to rest better and feel better—and they don’t involve gadgets:
- Stave off busyness and give yourself time to relax, especially before bed. Warm baths, caffeine-free tea and quiet meditation are great ways to get your mind into a better, more peaceful place. Avoid screentime and loud noise within an hour before bed.
- You may not have to hit the gym hard to be good to your body and improve your health. Research indicates that gentle exercise, such as yoga and stretching, can do a world of good to a stressed-out body—maybe more good than pounding away on that treadmill. Give it a try and see what your body tells you!
- Be sure you’re sleeping on a good mattress for you. Your bed should support proper alignment—whether you prefer to sleep on your back, side or stomach. At the same time, it should cushion pressure points, like shoulders and hips for side-sleepers. If you wake up feeling stiff but feel better after about 15 minutes of moving around and/or stretching, your mattress is probably the problem. The average mattress should be replaced every 7-8 years.
Sleep apps and inventions are cool and interesting—we’re not trying to discount their value. But all of the sleep monitoring and temperature adjustments in the world won’t help you sleep if you’re overstressed or uncomfortable.
Sleep tight, Urbanites!