Better Sleep Guide

SOME SHOPPING 3MUSTS2 WHEN BUYING A MATTRESS


Quality and Comfort:

Mattresses don1t have to be hard as a board to be good for you, although some people prefer a firmer sleeping surface. Today mattresses are built with new cushioning materials that offer you a plush feel on top with the core providing you with the necessary support for your body.


Support:

To check if your mattress offers appropriate support, lie on your back and try sliding the flat of your hand under the small of your back. If the mattress is too soft you will have difficulty getting your hand underneath; if it is too hard your hand will move freely beneath you as there will be a space between the mattress and your spine. When your hand fits snugly under the small of your back and the mattress then you know that this will allow your spine to rest in its natural 3s2 shape.


Space:

Check that the bed is wide enough to fit you comfortably. Sleep studies show that we turn between forty and sixty times a night and that we require room to move freely so that we don1t wake up. Couples should select a queen or king-size mattress to ensure that both individuals have enough space to feel and move comfortably when sleeping. When shopping for a new sleep set remember: Experts recommend that if you sleep with a partner you should allow enough space for both of you to move easily during the night.

Durability.

Refers to how long support and comfort will continue. Like all products, mattresses and foundations eventually will wear out and you won1t receive the same support and comfort as you did when the sleep set was new. That is why you need to evaluate your set at least twice a year. Don1t look to the warranty to tell you how long to keep your sleep set. The warranty protects you against product defects and workmanship mistakes and not the gradual loss of comfort and support.


MATTRESS SIZE DIMENSIONS:

King 782 x 79.52 Queen 602 x 79.52 Full 542 x 74.52 Twin 392 x 74.52 *All dimensions may vary by +/- 1/2 inch Matching Sleep Sets. Mattresses and foundations are engineered to work together. Mismatching sets, putting a new mattress on an old foundation or adding a board between the mattress and foundation can actually interfere with comfort and reduce the useful life of the mattress and foundation.


Cost:

Buy only quality made products with all new materials. Shop for the best value and not the lowest price. The market offers a wide range of prices from the budget priced twin sleep set to the ultra-premium king sleep set. Bottom line ­ you should spend the most you can afford. Your bed is an investment and you1ll be spending at least one-third of your life sleeping on it.

The Sleep Doctor


James B. Maas, Ph.D., is a pioneer of sleep research at Cornell University. He is also the recipient of the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Educator Award. Dr. Maas has appeared on TV programs such as NBC Nightly News, ABC's 20/20, the Today show, and Good Morning America and has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Dr. Maas offers these sleep tips from his book entitled Power Sleep: The Revolutionary Program That Prepares Your Mind For Peak Performance. The 3Golden Rules of Sleep2 from Doctor Maas

• Get an adequate amount of sleep every night. Identify the amount of sleep you need to be fully alert all day long and get that amount ­ every night.

• Make up for lost sleep as soon as possible. Pay back your 3sleep debts2 in a timely fashion.

• Establish a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up without an alarm clock at the same time every morning ­ including weekends.

• Get continuous sleep. For sleep to be rejuvenating, you should get your required amount of sleep in one continuous block.


Dr. Maas1 10 Sleep Strategies

1. Reduce stress as much as possible.
2. Exercise to stay fit.
3. Keep mentally stimulated during the day.
4. Eat a proper diet.
5. Stop smoking.
6. Reduce caffeine intake.
7. Avoid alcohol near bedtime.
8. Take a warm bath before bed.
9. Maintain a relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom.
10. Establish a bedtime ritual.


(3Power Sleep2 is published by Villard Books, a division of Random House, Inc., and is available in book stores nationwide.) Sleep Better. Live Better. A good night1s sleep is a necessity ­ not a luxury. Sleep plays an essential part in preparing your body and mind for optimum performance. Research shows that even a slight loss of sleep can have a significant impact on our mood, productivity, communication skills, and general health. Are you getting enough sleep? If you1re getting less than eight hours of sleep each night, or if you fall asleep instantly, or need an alarm clock to wake up, you could be one of the 63 million people in North America who are moderately to chronically sleep deprived. According to sleep experts, if you want to be in a good mood, fully alert, mentally sharp, creative, and energetic all day long, you may need to spend at least one third of your life sleeping. Your sleeping brain is highly active. As you sleep, your brain is performing important physiological, neurological and biochemical tasks. These tasks are crucial to your overall health, as well as your ability to remember and organize your thoughts. The one third of your life you spend sleeping restores, rejuvenates and empowers you to perform at your peak and enjoy the two thirds of your life that you spend awake.