Let’s see if this scenario sounds familiar. You toss and turn all night, sleep through your alarm and wake up feeling exhausted. If you’ve done any research about why you can’t sleep, you might think technology, blue light, room temperature and taking naps are the culprits sabotaging your sleep. But if you stopped these practices and you still feel like you’re not getting enough sleep, it’s time to turn your attention to your mattress and pillows.
If you have sleep issues, or always wake up feeling exhausted, you should first rule out sleep apnea or another serious medical condition. But if you’re in the clear, it’s time to blame your bed. A mattress or pillow that’s too old, or not providing you with the right support, can ruin your sleep. Here’s how to tell what’s causing your poor sleep and how to fix it. (For more, you can also check out our favorite weighted blankets, mattress toppers and bed sheets of the year).
If your mattress isn’t right for you, you’ll really struggle getting a restful night of sleep.
What if you ended up buying a new mattress that turned out to be too firm, and you’re past the trial period that most online mattress companies offer? A firm mattress can put too much pressure on your body, causing pain and stiffness. You can use a few tactics to make your firm mattress feel softer.
What if you mattress feels just right, but you wake up feeling congested night after night? Just like with your pillow, if your mattress is more than a few years old, it’s likely collected a lot of dust, dust mites and debris that can trigger allergies. You can easily deep clean your mattress to help it feel new again.
Lastly, if you have an older spring mattress, flipping it might help. However, because of how they are designed, you cannot flip newer foam mattresses. So if your foam mattress is lacking all of the support it once had, it’s time to toss it.
If none of those fixes are helping you sleep better, then it’s time to buy a new mattress. Most mattresses are designed to last 10 years, so if yours is older than that, look for these nine signs that it’s time to replace it.
Ready to shop for a new one? First, ask yourself these seven questions to find the right mattress. Then, check out our guide to buying a mattress online and our list of the best mattresses you can get in a box shipped to your front door.
