Month: June 2020

30
Jun
2020
The importance of a good pillow

The importance of a good pillow

Struggling to get a decent nights sleep or find your self tossing and turning trying to get comfortable?

Most people spend at least one-third of their lives with their head on a pillow. The older you get, the more you realise the importance of having a good pillow.

Not only does the pillow need to be a good one, but it needs to be one that is suited to your body, your health, and the way that you sleep.  Check out this list to learn more about how to choose a good pillow.

Pillows truly affect the way that you go about your day, and you probably aren’t even aware of this fact. Your pillow affects the way that your neck aligns with your spine, which can either alleviate or put more strain on your back and shoulders, affect headaches, and have an overall impact on how restful your sleep is. In order to determine the best pillow for you, consider the shape of your spine as well as the position you sleep in for most of the night.

Choosing the right pillow for your sleeping patterns

Back Sleepers

Those who spend most of the night lying flat on their backs should choose a flat, thin pillow that also supports the head and the spine. Wedge pillows are great for providing this support.

Side Sleepers

Those who spend most of the night lying on their sides need a contoured pillow that provides firm support. In most instances, it is healthy for side sleepers to place a pillow between their legs. This pillow allows the spine to stay in alignment, and will leave the back feeling less strain from sleeping on the side.

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers do not need much support for their head when sleeping. The thinner the pillow, the better, as this will prevent the head from rising too much and putting strain on the neck. In many instances, stomach sleepers will find comfort from placing a pillow under their stomachs to prevent lower back pain.

If you have any questions or require advice on the best types of pillows to purchase, please get in touch today by calling 01270 879379 or book an appointment at our showroom today.

Posted by m6beds in Bed Buying Tips, Bed Care, Better Night’s Sleep, Choose Your Perfect Mattress, Choosing The Right Mattress, Choosing the right pillows, Improve Sleep Patterns, Invest In A Bigger Bed, Investing in a Bed, Lumpy Pillow, M6 Beds, Mattress Care, mattress protector, Mattress Type, Mattresses, Memory Foam Mattress, Pillow Choice, Pillows, Right Pillow, Sleep Better, Sleep Patterns, Sleep Problems, The Right Mattress
23
Jun
2020
How to Choose Your Perfect Mattress

How to Choose Your Perfect Mattress

There are three common types of mattresses: innerspring, foam, and adjustable. There’s no one “right” material to choose, but in general, side sleepers need a softer mattress, stomach sleepers need a firm one, and back sleepers fall somewhere in between.

Beyond the types of mattresses and firmness, you’ll need to think about a few other factors. From sleep style to negotiating with a bedfellow, here’s what to look for based on your needs:

If you like a bed with bounce

Traditional innerspring styles have that familiar bouncy feel and may be firmer. Interconnected coils are extra-durable, but individual “pocketed” coils, each covered with fabric, reduce the ripple effect that happens when someone on one side of the bed moves.

If you prefer a firmer base

Memory foam options have less spring and offer more pressure relief. To determine quality, look at the density and thickness of the foam, which will determine how deep you’ll sink. The newer, online mattresses generally use several different layers of foam, with heavier ones on the bottom for support and lighter, cooler kinds on the top for comfort.

If you want a plush top

Innerspring mattresses typically have either a fiberfill or foam outer layer, covered in quilted ticking. But even if you want an uber-plush feel, don’t be swayed by a thick-looking pillowtop as it can compress over time. It’s often best to choose a firmer, well-quilted mattress, and then cover it with a replaceable mattress topper.

If you like to change it up

Consider an air-filled mattress. Two side-by-side chambers allow you and your partner to customise the mattress firmness separately. There are also foam mattresses with soft and firm sides, so you can just flip it over as needed, and modular designs that let you move around the springs on the inside.

If you sleep on your side

You’ll want a surface that will support your body weight, and conform to your shape. Innersprings may have more pressure relief than some foam or latex mattresses, but a soft foam mattress or one with built-in pressure relief points around the shoulders and hips can work for side sleepers, too

If you sleep on your stomach

The last thing a stomach-sleeper probably wants is an enveloping memory foam — it would feel smothering! Instead, a firmer bed will provide the best support. Consider a firm foam, dense innerspring, or air-filled mattress.

If you sleep on your back

You’ll want something in the middle — a surface that supports, but has some give so your spine is kept in a healthy alignment. You’ll find happiness with any of the mattress types, but you should do your best princess-and-the-pea impression to see what feels best to you.

Posted by m6beds in Children's Bed, Choose Your Perfect Mattress, Choosing The Right Mattress, Choosing the right pillows, Coronavirus, COVID19, Investing in a Bed, M6 Beds, Mattress Care, mattress protector, Mattress Type, Mattresses, Memory Foam Mattress, Pillow Choice, Pillows, Sleep Better, sleeping position, Snoozing, Sofa Bed, Sofa Beds, Summer Bedroom, The Right Mattress
18
Jun
2020
How to get a better night’s sleep despite coronavirus worries

How to get a better night’s sleep despite coronavirus worries

Between homeschooling unruly kids, concerns about your finances and worrying about the health of friends and family, getting a full night’s sleep is no easy feat these days.

With so many extra stresses to think about, it’s not unusual to spend the night tossing and turning, only to catch a glimpse of the clock and realise you’re way behind on your sleep schedule.

At this stage, you might be wondering whether you’re having trouble sleeping because you’re anxious, or you’re anxious because you can’t sleep. The truth is, it may be both. Being in a heightened state of stress can delay the onset of sleep and cause anxious thoughts to occur at night. But lack of sleep can cause anxiety disorders too.

Make sure you maintain a routine

With everything going on at the moment, it can be really difficult to maintain a routine. Whether you’re furloughed or working from home, it is likely your ‘normal’ routine will have changed quite a lot from what it was before.

Try to wake up and go to bed at a similar time to what you would before lockdown began. This will help you maintain a regular sleeping pattern – you should be aiming for seven-and-a-half to eight-and-a-half hours per night.

Avoid napping during the day and make time to wind down before bed to help you get to sleep more easily. You can do this by either reading, practising mindfulness or taking time away from technology.

Limit caffeine, nicotine and alcohol

Drinking tea, coffee or energy drinks during the day can impact your sleep at night. While people process caffeine differently, as a general rule it’s recommended that we stop drinking caffeine after 3pm – so consider switching to decaf or herbal teas after this.

When it comes to alcohol, consumption may make you feel sleepy and reduce the time it takes for you to fall asleep. However, once the alcohol wears off, it is likely you will sleep more lightly and have more disturbances during the night, leaving you feeling less refreshed in the morning.

Most people are well aware of the physical health benefits of cutting down on alcohol – but there are also mental health benefits too. For example, alcohol can make people feel more anxious – so cutting it down can help manage anxiety.

It’s also important to consider the impact of smoking on your sleep. Nicotine can increase your heart rate and alertness, so if you smoke before bed, you may feel more awake and struggle to fall asleep.

Take some time out from staring at the ceiling

If you’re struggling to fall asleep, don’t lie in bed worrying or feeling anxious. Get up and read a book, or listen to a podcast or relaxing music.

This can get your mind to focus on something else and ultimately help you feel sleepy again. Try to limit your screen time though, or use devices on night mode, so the light doesn’t further disturb your sleep pattern.

Posted by m6beds in Coronavirus, COVID19, Improve Sleep Patterns, Invest In A Bigger Bed, Investing in a Bed, M6 Beds, Mattress Care, Mattress Type, Mattresses, Memory Foam Mattress
12
Jun
2020
COVID-19: how does the coronavirus pandemic affect your sleep?

COVID-19: how does the coronavirus pandemic affect your sleep?

The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down and affected all aspects of our lives, including our health, livelihoods and much more. With the UK under COVID-19 lockdown and the public instructed to stay at home, many of us are feeling isolated and anxious – and it is affecting our sleep.

Coronavirus and sleep problems

There is a global sense of anxiety at this time. When turning on the news or talking with neighbours, friends and family, it is hard to escape the overall state of the planet right now, whether you are feeling the effects or not.

A sleep expert has said that we are asked to stay in our homes so we don’t maintain our usual routines which might include increasing or decreasing work, activities, and time away or with our loved ones. We get less exercise and light exposure – two very important regulators of sleep.

Anxiety in a generalised sense creates what we will refer to as arousal, or excitement or alertness. Arousal is triggered by the ‘fight or flight’ response, which releases the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline and prevents you from falling asleep.

How to improve your sleep quality

Everyone will have an occasional bad night, but regular poor sleep puts you at risk of certain medical conditions such as obesity and it can have a negative impact on your mental health. So how can you improve the quality of your sleep?

Stick to a routine

“Wake up and get up at the same time each day – no snoozing. Get light straightaway – natural if possible but artificial will do, and move and eat. This combination of behaviours will not only eventually lead to feeling super refreshed on waking, but also will do wonders for your sleep at night.”

Get up if you need to

Get out of bed instead of lying there unable to sleep, whether at the beginning, middle or end of the night.

“The simple reality is that lying in bed willing yourself back to sleep won’t work, but relaxing wake time will increase your sleep drive which will help you sleep.”

“So go away and distract yourself from sleep, but be mindful that you need to stay in your ‘relax/wind down’ activity phase.”

Try not to nap during the day if you aren’t used to doing it. “It will only dilute the quality of your sleep at night, and get your brain into new habits which will be hard to break”.

Turn off the news

“Don’t watch the late news, and avoid talking about stressful things close too bedtime, if you are worried about things, try to distract your mind by thinking about something pleasant, although not emotionally engaging.”

Relax properly

Relaxation doesn’t lead to sleep unless you are doing the above steps to regulate sleep and build up sleepiness at the right times.

Certain activities may help you relax, such as listening to a relaxing audio, and trying meditation or breathing exercises, but this doesn’t mean you will sleep.

“When you are increasingly anxious or panicked, don’t focus on sleep – focus on reducing the anxiety, ground yourself. Plant those feet firmly on the floor. Pick five things in your room. Describe function, appearance, smell, texture. Repeat. Remind your brain you are safe. Calm that heart rate and temperature down.”

Posted by m6beds in Choosing The Right Mattress, Coronavirus, COVID19, Improve Sleep Patterns, Investing in a Bed, M6 Beds, Mattress Type, Mattresses