Anxiety may not necessarily be the culprit that keeps you up at night and blocks you from crossing over to dreamland. It may really be just a simple matter, like the quality of your mattress.
If you’re done tossing and turning and yearn for restful, undisturbed sleep, invest in the right type of mattress. And don’t let the mattress war among outlets intimidate you! Here’s our quick guide on what to consider when buying one:
Mattress Type
Just like the bodies that lie on them, mattresses come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. You’ll have to consider many factors when choosing the right one for you: from its potential lifespan, to how cold or hot you usually get while sleeping.
Here are the most common types of mattresses:
- Memory Foam. These mattresses provide incredible support and body contouring, which make them perfect if you’re looking for a soft, luxurious bed with strong pressure relief. Some memory foam mattresses, particularly the gel foam type, reduce the heat from your body to make sleep more comfortable.
- Latex. These are known for their great cooling properties, but they don’t “hug” like a memory foam does. They’re breathable, bouncy, and supple. And most importantly, they’re hypoallergenic and anti-microbial. Just don’t buy this mattress type if you’re allergic to latex. Being the most durable type, they should last for many years.
- Hybrid. Combining a coil, latex, or foam base with a soft memory foam top, hybrid mattresses are quite versatile and diverse, designed specifically to maximize the pros and minimize the cons of other mattress types. Providing the best of both worlds, these mattresses have one major drawback: They tend to be expensive.
Mattress Firmness
What can make you wake up on the right side of the bed or leave you with a stiff, sore back in the morning? Your sleeping position and body weight! So choose mattress firmness carefully.
But how soft or firm should a good mattress be? Don’t confuse the firmness with the level of support that a mattress provides. A good mattress with the proper level of support will keep your spine properly aligned without any excessive pressure points — regardless of how soft or firm it is.
Here’s what you should keep in mind when choosing the firmness of your mattress:
Your preferred sleeping position
Are you a side-sleeper? Then choose a softer mattress to avoid discomfort in your hip joints and shoulders. If you tend to sleep on your stomach or back, a firmer mattress would be a better choice. A soft one could cause your body to sink, which might lead to back or neck pain.
Your body weight
Your weight is probably the most important factor to consider when choosing a mattress. Everything – from the required levels of support to cooling properties – depends on your body weight. A mattress that’s too soft can cause more pressure points on your back to suffer when you’re heavier. So, if you weigh over 200 pounds, choose a mattress with a grade of 3 on the firmness scale. If you weigh less than 150 pounds, feel free to go as soft as you want; a grade of 5 or 6 might be suitable.
Your Ideal Mattress Awaits
It doesn’t matter if you want to purchase online or patronize your local mattress store. Just make sure you remember what to look for when buying one. And although online shopping can be highly convenient, a visit to a store can still be a good idea — so that you can do a little test-drive before committing.
