Improve your sleep by buying a new mattress

A good night's sleep is priceless. Mattresses however can be purchased for a reasonable price, and a good one can improve your sleep.

Photo Credit: Rebecca Ellis

If you are tired of tossing and turning, waking up during the night, or waking up in the morning stiff, sore, and still groggy, your mattress might be the problem. Comfort is a key element in achieving restful sleep, and replacing your mattress is one of the simplest ways to insure a better night's rest.

First, determine why your mattress is no longer comfortable. Is it too soft? Is it sagging? If you have had your mattress for a very long time, replacing it may have already crossed your mind. Do it as soon as possible, so you can start sleeping better and waking up more refreshed.

An average mattress needs to be replaced about every ten years anyway. A high quality mattress that receives the best of care, may last an additional two to three years. In either event, mattresses should not be used longer, since they do begin to accumulate sweat, germs, and body soil. Hygiene alone is a good reason to replace your mattress after 10 years.

Another consideration is the fact that your body changes with age. So do your mattress needs. You need more support as you get older and a worn mattress cannot give you proper support.

If you are worried that an extra firm mattress will be too hard, try one with a pillow top or other padding on top of the mattress. You can find the softness you need for comfort without purchasing a mattress that is too soft to offer the support you require.

There are many different types of mattresses available today, and the best way to choose one is to test several first. Go to a showroom and lie down on the mattresses you like. Really. Do not be embarrassed; that is why showrooms are there. There is no better way to determine whether or not a mattress is comfortable than to lie down on it.

Slip your shoes off and climb onto the bed. Lie on your back, your stomach, your side, and see how comfortable each position is. Do you notice a difference between the mattress and your old mattress?

Move into your regular sleeping position and stay in that position for ten to fifteen minutes to see if the mattress truly is comfortable. A minute or two is not long enough to test a mattress effectively.

Some people feel silly, so they don't lie down at all or they just try a mattress for a minute. They purchase a mattress too quickly and once they sleep on it all night they are unhappy with it. Sometimes mattresses can be returned, but this is not always the case. Even if the mattress can be returned or exchanged, why go through all that hassle?

While a good quality, comfortable mattress is worth every penny, mattresses are not exactly cheap. It just doesn't make sense to make the investment without examining the merchandise carefully.

Take the time to find the right mattress the first time. Salespeople want you to buy a mattress, and they also want you to be happy with it. They will do what they can to help, so ask questions, try each mattress out, and make sure you buy one that you can sleep on comfortably for the next few years.

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