better sleep Archives - Sealy

Tag: better sleep

Natural ways to manage anxiety

Posted on by lionel

Anxiety is sometimes caused by either dwelling too much in the future or in the past – worrying about things that might or might not happen and letting our mind rest on painful experiences of the past. One of the key natural ways to manage anxiety is to be fully present in the current moment.

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress, and it serves a very real and valuable purpose in our lives. It lets us know when we are in danger and helps us identify possible risks. However, if anxiety is left unchecked, it can spiral out of control and can end up having a negative impact on your quality of life.

There are a number of ways to treat anxiety. Therapy can help to explore the reasons behind your anxiety and can also give you tools for managing the anxiety. Medications like anti-depressants and sedatives work to balance your brain chemistry.

How to manage anxiety naturally

Big and small lifestyle changes can also have an impact on your anxiety. Below are a few natural remedies for anxiety.

  • Move your body

A new study published in January 2022 showed that regular, moderate exercise can help improve symptoms of anxiety.

  • Consume less alcohol

Alcohol changes the level of feel-good chemicals in the brain. You might feel less anxious when you’ve had a drink or too, but the anxiety returns, sometimes even worse, as the alcohol starts to wear off. Alcohol also interferes with your sleep, which leads us to the next point…

  • Make sleep a priority

Sleep deprivation worsens anxiety, and deep sleep protects against anxiety. However, if you battle with anxiety, sometimes trying to fall asleep can cause more anxiety. Good ‘sleep hygiene’ can help improve bedtime battles. This includes going to bed and waking up at the same time every morning, exposure to daylight, turn off all screens about an hour before bedtime, etc.

  • Meditate and practice mindfulness

The main goal of meditation is to learn to rest your mind in the present moment. There are many different types of meditation available to try out, including focussed meditation, mantra meditation, loving-kindness meditation, visualisation meditation, etc.

Create the ideal sleep environment

In general, sleep can take its toll on mental health, including triggering anxiety. Setting up an environment that promotes rest will allow you to fall asleep faster and enjoy a more refreshing sleep.

  • Use black out curtains or blinds to make your room dark
  • Keep your room at the ideal temperature, usually between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius
  • Ensure you have the right mattress that provides adequate support and comfort for the perfect sleep. (Use the Sealy Mattress Selector tool to find the best Sealy for your sleep profile.)
  • Control noise. If outside noises are unmanageable, it might be worthwhile investing in ear plugs or a sound machine.
  • Keep your bedroom as clutter-free as possible.

The perfect sleeping environment is a highly personal matter, but with the above tips and your intuition, you’ll be well on your way to creating your own sleep sanctuary. As far as interventions to help manage anxiety, many of these suggestions are low-risk and low-cost, and the side effects are mostly good. It’s worth a try.

Co-sleeping: Does your child sleep in the same bed as you?

Posted on by lionel

For many South African parents, sharing a bed with their growing children is a reality of economics rather than choice. However, co-sleeping and bed sharing is also a common practice in many cultures around the world because it encourages bonding and helps the children feel safe.

Although bed-sharing with babies is often controversial, with some paediatricians saying it increases the risk of suffocation, for many people it makes sense to sleep with their children for the first few years of their life. Co-sleeping with a baby can be easier for a breastfeeding mother, encourages skin-to-skin contact and can help to cement the emotional bond between the baby and parents.

Most experts advise that children should learn to sleep in their own beds between the ages of 5 and 8. However, there seems to be strong views for and against co-sleeping with older children. It’s important for families to understand the pros and cons and to ultimately make the decision that fits best with their financial reality and their family values.

The pros and cons of co-sleeping with older children

Pros

  • It encourages closeness and kids feel safe throughout the night
  • It reduces bedtime struggles
  • Could help foster higher self-esteem in children
  • Many cultures around the world view co-sleeping as totally natural

Cons

  • Children might struggle to fall asleep without a parent present
  • Differing bedtimes might mean interrupted sleep for everyone
  • Sleep quality might suffer if your child is an ‘active sleeper’
  • Less time or space for intimacy

Invest in a Sealy Singles for your growing child

If you feel that it’s time for your child to move into their own bed, you might place the bed in your room or move your child into their own room entirely. This will require some strategizing and planning from your side, to make sure your child is emotionally ready for the move.

The Sealy Singles range is designed for toddlers to teens, providing all the support and comfort they need for healthy growth and development. These mattresses are made with Allergen Protect fabric, keeping the mattress fresh, healthy and free from common allergens such as dust mites. Click here to find out more about the Sealy Singles range.

Co-sleeping – time for a bigger bed?

If you decide that co-sleeping is the answer for your family, a family-sized bed will give you all a little more room. Below are mattress measurements for each Sealy bed size:

  • Single – 915mm x 1880mm
  • Three Quarter – 1070mm x 1880mm
  • Double – 1370mm x 1880mm
  • Queen – 1520mm x 1880mm
  • King – 1830mm x 1880mm
  • Extra length (2000mm) is available on request

We have a list of approved Sealy retailers on our website. Click here to find your closest Sealy approved retailer.

New Year’s resolutions: Books to improve well-being

Posted on by lionel

Well-being is the feeling of health and happiness, balance and purpose. Achieving mental well-being requires personal research and constant practice. If it’s at the top of your New Year’s resolutions, read on to find  some books that might help along your journey.

Mindfulness, nutrition, and sleep are all very important pillars of holistic health.

Many people forget that without proper sleep their journey to a healthier life and mental well-being becomes almost impossible. Making sure we get enough good quality sleep is a great act of self-care and a vital part of health and wellness. We may not realise it, but our night’s sleep can impact our immune system, our stress levels, body weight and mood. Just like mental health and nutrition, good sleep should also be a priority.

New Year’s resolutions: Our book recommendations

Below is a selection of books that will help you better understand and improve all three important sectors of well-being and give you the tools to live a happier and healthier life.

  • An Elegant Defense – The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System by Matt Richtel

An Elegant Defense is a deep exploration of the human immune system and the secrets of holistic health by the Pulitzer Prize- winning and New York Times journalist Matt Richtel.

The book explains the mysteries of sickness and health and reveals how our own bodies can be our best ally or our worst enemy. Fatigue, stress, toxins and poor nutrition are just some of the elements that poison our body daily but even so, our immunity system can still find the way to protect us. How does it do it? Elegant Defense investigates all the complicated health riddles and brings you a profoundly human tale.

  • Happy, not Perfect – Upgrade Your Mind, Challenge Your Thoughts, and Free Yourself from Anxiety by Poppy Jamie

Jamie writes about overcoming perfectionism through mindfulness. She brings the readers along her journey from self-judgement and negative internal conversations to psychological flexibility and self-acceptance. Happy, not Perfect is a book about understanding your emotions and feeling empathy about your self and the world around you. The author gives us important tools, inspires us with her journey and educates us on mental wellbeing.

  • Love your Gut – Supercharge Your Digestive Health and Transform Your Well-Being from the Inside Out by Megan Rossi

Doctors refer to our gut as our second brain and there is a good reason for that. Dr. Rossi is a well-recognised nutritionist and dietitian. Love your Gut does a remarkable job of giving us all the information we need about our largest organ, how it works, how to listen to what it needs, and most importantly how to cure any problems of the gut. The road to a happy and healthy life passes through your microbiome.

  • Why we Sleep – Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker

Why we Sleep by Matthew Walker is a book based on modern scientific research and offers information on how sleep affects our cognitive and physical performance in our everyday life but also in the long run.

Sleep is the most necessary and effective thing we can do to reset our brain and heal our body every day. Walker explains the important benefits of sleep for optimal health, especially memory and learning, and talks about why we are the most sleep deprived generation in the human history and how our body reacts to it.

How to improve your sleep

If improving your sleep is one of your New Year’s resolutions, you’re in the right place. Sleep is fundamental for our well-being and overall health, and it should be a priority for all of us. Below are some tips on how to get a good night’s sleep:

  • Stick to a sleeping schedule. keep the same sleeping hours during the week but also at the weekends.
  • Create a peaceful sleep environment, keeping your room cool, dark and quiet if possible.
  • Establish a calming bedtime routine that includes activities such as reading a book, taking a bath, or meditating.
  • Don’t underestimate the impact of a comfortable mattress. Many people toss and turn throughout the night, wake up with aches and pains and feeling tired, and fail to consider that the mattress might be the source of the problem. Answer this quick Sealy quiz to discover the best mattress for you: Find the perfect Sealy.
  • Invest in a good pillow. Read our blog post: Could a new pillow help me sleep better?

 

 

 

Is it normal to wake up tired?

Posted on by lionel

That groggy feeling when you wake up in the morning is probably sleep inertia, and it’s pretty normal. It can last for as little as 10 minutes or even up to an hour. However, if you wake up tired and your fatigue lasts throughout most of the day, it could be a sign that something else is going on.

For most adults, waking up tired is the norm. It’s a natural part of the transition out of sleep. This transition is called sleep inertia: that feeling of drowsiness, laziness and disorientation you experience just after waking up. The question is not how tired you feel when you just wake up, the real question is how much energy you have throughout your day.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)

If your sleep inertia lasts for much of your day, it could be a sign of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS). It’s normal to feel sleepy once in a while, especially if you have been sleeping less, but according to the Sleep Foundation it could be EDS if this happens every day for three months. If you have concerns about your sleep patterns and/or energy levels, consult a specialist for medical advice.

If you wake up tired, consider your sleep hygiene

Sleep hygiene refers to healthy habits that contribute to the quality of your sleep – and they usually start long before bedtime If you wake up tired, consider some of these tips:

  • Keep a consistent sleep routine by waking up and going to bed at the same time every night
  • Turn off electronic devices at least an hour before going to bed
  • Exercise regularly – but not more than an hour before bedtime
  • Limit the amount of caffeine you consume
  • Soak up some sunlight soon after waking up

Make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary

If you can’t sleep, turn your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary with luxurious linen, perfect pillows, black-out curtains and of course a good quality mattress. Look out for the following signs that your mattress could be culprit:

  • Your mattress is more than eight years old
  • Your mattress squeaks and there are lumps and pumps on the mattress
  • You have “taco bed” – when you seem to roll into the middle of the bed
  • You get better sleep when you crash on the couch or in your child’s bed
  • You wake up with aches and pains

If you think your mattress might be causing you to wake up tired, use our handy Mattress Selector tool to find the best Sealy for you. Simply answer a few questions about your sleep style, and we will make a recommendation. Click here to get started.

 

 

Choosing the best mattress for back pain

Posted on by lionel

Can a mattress cause back pain? Yes, the wrong mattress can cause or aggravate an aching back. The best mattress for back pain is orthopaedically designed to help your spine maintain a neutral position and prevent back soreness.

Lower back pain is so common that up to 30 to 40 percent of South Africans will experience this discomfort at some point in their lives. However, you don’t have to live with back pain. Lower back pain can be successfully treated with non-invasive methods, and in fact it might be as simple as investing in the best mattress for back pain.

Top signs that your mattress might be causing back pain

  • You back is sore right after waking up in the morning
  • You toss and turn all night
  • You have ‘taco bed’ – the middle of your bed is collapsing, and as a result your spine isn’t supported
  • Your mattress is older than seven to eight years
  • Your mattress is new – it sometimes takes a few weeks for your body to adjust to a new mattress

The best mattress for back pain

It is impossible to recommend a specific mattress for back pain because it is a highly personal choice and there are countless factors to consider. There is no single mattress type that provides comfort for all people with back pain. However, a soft mattress can sometimes cause back pain because the spine is not supported in a comfortable sleeping position. Conversely, a bed that is too hard puts pressure on the joints. Most sleep experts recommend a medium-firm orthopaedic mattress for back pain. (We are not medical experts and no part of this blog should be considered medical advice. It’s important to chat to a medical professional for advice.)

We have developed a Sealy guide to help you choose the best mattress for your needs. Click here to get started – simply answer a few questions about your sleep style and we will recommend a selection of Sealy beds that might be a good match for you.

The best mattress for back pain is designed by orthopedics

The best mattress allows for full support of the spine, and targets pressure relief. Mattresses with  Posturepedic Technology™ are designed by orthopedics to support every part of your body and offers the following benefits:

  • Pressure relieving comfort for undisturbed sleep: from ultra-plush to cushion firm, built with premium materials.
  • The support you need: deep-down orthopedically correct support with a superior edge support system.
  • A system where everything works together to give you the same great comfort and support for a long time: extra durability that repays your investment day after day.

Adjustable beds are a game changer when it comes to quality sleep. Sealy Posturematic Adjustable Base beds come with customised head and foot adjustment options, a dual massage function, a flashlight and an LCD Clock.

Tips for better sleep with back pain

  • Try sleep in a different position and use a pillow to support different body parts. If you’re a side sleeper, place a pillow between your knees. If you sleep on your back, place the pillow underneath your knees.
  • Try not to sleep on your stomach because this sleep position puts extra strain on your spine.
  • Make sure your pillow is at a comfortable height and not creating too much pressure on your neck. Your pillow should be placed under your head and neck, not your shoulders.

Sealy tips: Natural ways to get better sleep

Posted on by lionel

A great day begins with a great night’s sleep. In fact, numerous studies have shown that inadequate sleep over time can shorten your lifespan. If your stressful lifestyle is interfering with your sleep, read this blog to discover three natural ways to get better sleep. While we can’t control many aspects of life, if we’re aware of the things we can control we can make the necessary changes to improve health.

Sealy’s top for tips for better sleep, naturally:

Get early morning sun

Exposure to sun early in your day can help you sleep better, especially if it’s within the first hour of waking up. It warms up your body and jumpstarts your daytime hormones. Sunlight encourages the production of the stress hormone cortisol and increases the level of serotonin, which is important to sleep.

Vitamin D from the sun helps your body fight fatigue and boosts mental health.

Soaking up some sun at the same time every day will also regulate your circadian rhythms, your body clock, so your body is able to naturally fall asleep and wake up as the sun rises and sets.

Morning sunshine up until around 10am is ideal. Any time after that the sunlight is stronger. If you plan on being in the sun for more than 30 minutes, remember to wear sunscreen.

Take 2 short breathing breaks each day

Concentrating on your breathing can ease anxiety and help you sleep better. Set your alarm during the morning and afternoon to remind you to take a conscious breathing break, even if it’s just for five minutes at a time.

There are various breathing exercises to try during these breaks. Click on this article for a step-by-step guide on five different breathing techniques: Breathing techniques for better sleep.

Avoid screens for the first and last hour of your day

Let’s face it – most of us are attached to our phones for most of the day. However, if you are looking for natural ways to deepen your sleep, consider avoiding screens at the beginning and the end of your day.

Looking at your phone first thing in the morning can rob you of those first few moments of peace in your day. Rather than easing into the day, you’re thinking about the news, your to-do list and whether last night’s post got any likes. Stress can cause sleep deprivation.

Although it’s tempting to watch TV, work on your computer or scroll endlessly on your phone before bed, studies have shown these devices suppress melatonin, your sleep hormone. This decreases your feelings of sleepiness. Rather establish a relaxing bedtime routine to help your body wind down before bed.

Get better sleep: Choose a mattress that supports your natural sleeping position

Through constant research and development, as well as collaboration and studies with orthopaedic surgeons all over the world, the Sealy team has established the best ‘criteria’ for optimal sleep. Building upon the recommendations of these world class orthopaedic surgeons, Sealy constructed a mattress with an interconnected spring system topped with foam and comfort layers that could support the ideal sleeping posture – meaning the body is in its natural position to fully relieve muscular tension. This is what’s known today as Sealy’s exclusive Posturepedic Technology™, which targets the heaviest part of your body, with reinforced support where you need it most. Only Posturepedic Technology’s zoned mattresses gives you deep, targeted support for exceptional all-over comfort.

Sealy Posturepedic Technology™ supports natural sleep by providing:

  • Pressure relieving comfort for undisturbed sleep: from ultra-plush to cushion firm, built with premium materials.
  • The support you need: deep-down orthopedically correct support with a superior edge support system.
  • A system where everything works together to give you the same great comfort and support for a long time: extra durability that repays your investment day after day.

We have developed a range of mattress, all designed to meet different sleep requirements. To help make your decision easier, we’ve developed a Mattress Selector to discover what’s most important to you when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, and provide a recommendation for a mattress based on your unique sleep profile. Click here to find the perfect Sealy for you.

 

 

The Sealy Effect for Paralympic Athlete Jonathan Ntutu

Posted on by lionel

‘Rest is almost as important as the physical training I do in the track and gym.’

This is what Jonathan Ntutu, South African Paralympic Athlete, told us when we asked him what he does for self-care. He says when he’s not training, he gets as much rest as possible. That’s speaking Sealy language!

We are passionate believers in the Sealy Effect, which explains how good sleep can spill over into other areas of your life, like relationships, physical performance, productivity and health. This is why we were proud to sponsor Jonathan with a Sealy sleep system designed to help him get the best quality sleep. We gifted Jonathan with a Sealy la différence bed, a Sealy MyGel pillow, a Sealy Natural Latex Pillow and a Sealy mattress protector.

The Sealy Effect on athletic performance

‘Our new Sealy la différence bed has made a true difference in the amount of rest I get. I previously slept as much as I could during the night and didn’t feel like I was rested. With our new Sealy bed, I get more than 8 hours and truly proper rest,’ says Jonathan.

‘Proper sleep is one of the most important aspect of getting a good cycle of training. If you don’t sleep well, you will not perform well in training or in competition.’

As a professional athlete from a young age, Jonathan knows what he’s speaking about. Sleep is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Several studies of professional athletes have shown that good quality sleep improves accuracy and increases reaction times. Adequate sleep before a competition is likely to encourage top performance.

Get to know Paralympic Athlete Jonathan Ntutu

Jonathan is off to the Tokyo Paralympic Games this year and his ambition is to win Gold in the men’s 100m T12 so he can complete his Paralympic medal set.  Jonathan has competed at three Summer Paralympic Games, first in 2004, then in Beijing in 2008; winning bronze in London in 2012 and silver in Rio in 2016. He has also been hugely successful at four World Championships, coming home with three silvers and two bronze medals.

Born in Gugulethu in 1986, Jonathan was born with a congenital complication that left him visually impaired; though he is not blind. He was unable to cope in mainstream education and his parents, who struggled financially, ensured that his needs were catered for by enrolling him in the Athlone School for the Blind.

This is where Jonathan began to shine. At a young age he showed an aptitude for sprinting, and he soon started training at the Vygieskraal Stadium in Athlone. He was selected to represent South Africa in Athens in 2004 at the Paralympic Games. He continued his climb as one of South Africa’s elite Parlympic athletes, winning medals throughout the years.

 Good luck to our athletes at this year’s Paralympic games!

The Sealy Team wishes all our Paralympians the best of luck for this the Tokyo Paralympic Games! Your dedication is truly inspiring, and this is your time to shine. South Africa is behind you!

Is it time to get a new bed?

Posted on by lionel

There are many factors that impact a good night’s sleep, but a good mattress makes a big difference in a restorative night’s sleep or a poor night’s sleep that leaves you grumpy and fatigued. If you’re not sure if it’s time to get a new bed, keep reading for our top seven signs.

The top 7 signs you need a new bed

  1. Your mattress is more than seven years old. The Sleep Foundation recommends replacing your mattress every six to 10 years. This is a general guideline – most Sealy mattresses easily last longer than 10 years. Keep reading the tips below to help determine if you need a new mattress. However, it’s also important to note that Sealy is dedicated to sleep research, so if your bed is almost a decade old, there’s a good chance that you could be missing our on the latest sleep technology used in our latest range of mattresses.
  2. If you wake up feeling tired with aches and pains, it could mean your mattresses is no longer supporting your body the way it should.
  3. The bed is making more noise than usual – the springs are squeaking or the bed’s foundation is creaking.
  4. There are visible signs of wear and tear, like a spring sticking out of the mattress.
  5. There is a noticeable sag in the middle of the bed. We call it ‘taco bed’, and it causes you to roll into the middle of the bed. This might not be a problem if you sleep alone, but could be irritating if you sleep with a partner.
  6. Your allergies are worse than normal. It’s gross but true – you shed skin cells during the night and dust mites feed on them. Dust mites cause allergies. You should protect your mattress with a mattress protector and also clean it at least once a year. If your bed is really old though, it might be time to get a new bed.
  7. Your life circumstances have changed. Maybe you share a bed with a partner now, maybe your kids sleep in the bed with you, maybe you’ve gained weight, or you have body ailments you never had before. A lot can happen in 10 years, make sure your mattress changes with you.

Try out our handy online guide for choosing a new bed

Choosing a new mattress is a big investment and it’s not a decision you make without careful consideration. To help make your decision easier, we’ve developed a Mattress Selector tool to discover what’s most important to you when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, and provide a recommendation for a mattress based on your unique sleep profile.

Click here to get started with our Mattress Selector Q&A to find the best Sealy for you.

When you buy a new Sealy, make sure it’s #ClearlyASealy

When shopping for your new Sealy, it is safest to make sure you are purchasing your bed from an Authorised Sealy Retailer, and you receive an official invoice. Remember, our list of authorised retailers are on the Sealy website. Click here to view a list of Sealy retailers. If the store you’re shopping at isn’t on this list, contact us to check if that store is in fact authorised to sell Sealy mattresses.

All Sealy mattresses come with a warranty, which will protect you in the unlikely event of a factory defect. Once you purchase your Sealy, visit our website to register your warranty. This is a good way to protect your investment. A warranty is your protection against defective workmanship – it is not a guarantee of product life or more important, of comfort life.

 

Your morning coffee could be messing with your sleep

Posted on by lionel

The odds are that a bad night’s sleep is an experience you’re familiar with. There’s also a good chance that you turn to your morning cup of coffee to give you a boost. However, your morning coffee could be messing with your sleep.

Turning to coffee to wake up is not a wrong approach. Caffeine is a valuable stimulant, and coffee consumption has been tied with many short and long-term benefits for the body. However, there might be some downsides that you should be aware of

How does coffee work?

After a hard day’s work, your body produces an organic compound named adenosine that helps your body feel sleepy. Caffeine blocks adenosine, which is great if you’re trying to stay awake but not so great when it comes to sleep.

It doesn’t happen immediately—your intestines absorb caffeine within the hour, and it reaches its maximum effects within two. After that, the substance has a half-life from two hours to over ten, so it’s possible to feel the effects of coffee well into the evening.

Coffee could affect your blood’s sugar levels

The Centre for Nutrition, Exercise & Metabolism of the University of Bath, located in the United Kingdom, determined that drinking a cup of black coffee first thing in the morning could affect your blood sugar levels throughout the day.

The study—published by the British Journal of Nutrition—investigated the link between sleep, coffee, and glucose and insulin levels in the blood. It turns out that a single bad night does not affect glucose or insulin levels, but drinking black coffee before eating can create insulin resistance, which means your blood’s glucose could increase by nearly 50% when you eat breakfast.

In short, a cup of black coffee can disrupt more than just your sleep—it can impact your sugar control.

How does your morning coffee effect your sleep?

High blood sugar, in the long term, has terrible consequences for your health. However, it can also have short-term implications since elevated blood sugar levels can induce insomnia, fatigue, thirst, and other sleep-disrupting events.

Of course, drinking your morning cup of coffee after breakfast, and not before, can protect your blood sugar levels—but it doesn’t guarantee your sleep. Remember that your body could still take near 10 hours to process the caffeine.

Your morning coffee could be in your system well into the evening, keeping your body active.

It’s not just your coffee, either—caffeine is hidden in other everyday foods, such as chocolate, soda, and even tea. Other stimulants, such as nicotine, can also keep you awake at night in the same manner caffeine does.

So—what to do?

The truth is, despite these facts, your body’s response to caffeine is quite individual. If you struggle with your sleep, your best bet is to experiment with your coffee consumption and try to see if you notice any improvement afterwards.

Only then will you be able to figure out whether your morning coffee is a miracle cure or if it might be more trouble than it’s worth.

What if it’s your mattress?

Of course, one of the biggest hindrances to a good night’s sleep is an old and lumpy mattress. If you’ve ruled out coffee as a disturbance to your sleep, take a look at the mattress you have, and ask yourself the following:

  • Are you still tired when you wake up?
  • Do you toss and and turn all night?
  • Is your mattress sagging?

In many cases, a poor quality, old or worn mattress is an overlooked factor in insomnia. If you’ve been sinking into an old bed that’s lost its shape your body is not being supported and your unique sleeping posture isn’t being accommodated. If your mattress is too firm or too soft, you might experience back and joint pains. Sealy’s exclusive Posturepedic Technology™ mattresses are built strategically to help provide proper support for the entire body, comfort for a great night’s sleep and durability for peace of mind. Orthopedically correct mattress design fully supports the body while at the same time relieving pressure points, allowing the body to fully relax.

 

 

 

Ever heard of ‘revenge bedtime procrastination’?

Posted on by lionel

You know that watching one more episode (or three!) of your series will mean you go to bed way too late, and you will get far too little sleep, but you just don’t care because this is the first time you could relax since you woke up this morning. If this sounds like you, you could be engaging in revenge bedtime procrastination.

What is it?

Any time the word ‘revenge’ is used to describe your activity, you have to know it’s not good for you. But with today’s busy lifestyles and demanding jobs, many people feel like they simply don’t have any free time during the day and staying up late is the only time they can take some time to unwind. Also known as sleep procrastination, this is when people consciously retaliate against their busy day by going to sleep later than they should, even though they know they will be tired, grumpy and extra stressed the following day.

Revenge bedtime procrastination was first introduced in China, where many people work the 996 schedule – 9am to 9pm, six days a week. However, this phenomenon is common across the world, especially with COVID, altered work schedules and increased stress. Although many people report getting fewer hours of sleep during the pandemic, sleep procrastination is a concept that started gaining popularity as early as 2014.

Essentially, sleep procrastination happens because of a lack of free time during the day.

Impact of revenge bedtime procrastination

Getting insufficient sleep is a little-recognised but extremely important global health pandemic. A 2019 Phillips Global Sleep Survey showed that 62% of adults worldwide feel they don’t get enough sleep. Reasons cited included stress, an uncomfortable sleeping environment and a hectic work or school schedule.

Regularly not getting enough sleep can impact you in the following ways:

  • Lower immune system
  • Lower libido
  • Increased chances of depression and anxiety
  • Weight gain
  • Foggy brain and poor memory

What you can do about it

  • Prioritise sleep. To help, conduct some research starting right here on the Sealy blog to find out how your body benefits from good quality sleep
  • Establish a consistent bedtime and waking up time
  • Create a comfortable sleep environment with warm, cozy blankets and dark curtains to block out light
  • If your bed is more than eight years old, it might be time to invest in a newer, more comfortable mattress. Click here for our Mattress Selector Tool, to find the perfect mattress for you
  • Assess your schedule to see if there are any activities you can cut out. Try to make time for yourself during the day, even if it’s starting out with just five minutes

 

 

 

Note from CEO