Sleep is essential to life. Without enough sleep, we can develop physical and psychological illness affecting every aspect of our lives. Taylor Bedding Co. has been in the “sleep business” since 1903, manufacturing the finest quality mattresses on the market, in a variety of fabrics and materials to meet the ever changing needs of American consumers. Below are some of the most asked questions about “sleep” and answers we have gathered over the last hundred years in the mattress business.
Q. Why is sleep important?
Q. Is it true that napping can be bad for you?
Q. Does the mattress affect how a person sleeps?
Q. How much sleep does the average person need?
Q. What are some ways to get a better night’s sleep?
Q. What’s the right amount of sleep?
Q. What can shift workers or people who work at night do to sleep better?
Q. Is there a problem with falling asleep on the sofa watching television, not falling asleep in bed?
Q. Where should I go for information if I think I have a sleep-related health problem?
Q. What if there’s no time for sleep? What can people do to sleep better?
Q. Can people make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping in on weekends?
Q. How can someone tell if they have a sleep disorder?
Q. Why is sleep important?
Sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle. Like eating right and exercising, sleeping well is essential to feeling your best during the day. It affects how you feel, your relationships, your productivity and your quality of life. While you sleep, your brain goes to work, consolidating the day’s learning into memory and re-energizing the body. Good sleep helps you have a good life.
Q. Is it true that napping can be bad for you?
There’s nothing wrong with taking a short (power) nap to help refresh you during the day. But if you find you’re napping all the time, it could be a sign that you aren’t getting as much sleep as you should. Or that you’re not getting the deep, restful sleep you need at night. Other factors may also be causing daytime sleepness, such as poor diet, lack of exercise or medications. If you need more than one nap a day, check with your physician for the root cause to your symptoms.
Q. Does the mattress affect how a person sleeps?
Yes. The mattress has the potential either to encourage sleep or rob you of sleep. Whether your mattress is a “sleep friend” or a “sleep foe” can determine how refreshed you feel in the morning. If you’re tossing and turning more at night or if you’re waking up feeling stiff or sore after a night’s sleep, it could be a sign that your current mattress is no longer the best for you. Your body appreciates a comfortable, supportive mattress and will let you know if it’s not up to the task. Today, we manufacture mattresses from a variety of materials and the latest technologies to create high quality mattresses for the different sleep and comfort needs of American consumers. So, do your research and find the best mattress style for your lifestyle and sleep patterns.
Q. How much sleep does the average person need?
The average person needs 7-8 hours a night, but it differs for every person. Some people may need as much as 10 hours a night and others need much less. If you sleep longer on the weekends than during the week, you probably aren’t getting the sleep you need every night. If you are dozing off during the day or feel irritable it could be from a lack of sleep. Review your lifestyle, diet and exercise routine and find the sleep quantity and pattern that is best for your productivity and optimum health.
Q. What are some ways to get a better night’s sleep?
Here are few key tips to help you get a better night’s sleep. Try going to bed and getting up at the same time every day – even on the weekends. This will help keep your biological clock in sync. Develop a sleep ritual by doing the same things each night just before bed. Parents often establish a routine for their kids, but it can help adults, too. A routine cues the body to settle down for the night. Another hint: Unwind early in the evening so that worries and distractions don’t keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. Finally, create a restful sleep environment – sleep in a cool, quiet, dark room on a comfortable, supportive mattress and foundation – to get your best night’s rest. If you’re sleeping as much as you need, but still find that you’re sleepy during the day, you should consult your doctor to see if you might have a medical condition interfering with your sleep.
Q. What can shift workers or people who work at night do to sleep better?
Anyone who sleeps during the day needs to make sure their room is dark – use heavy window coverings to block out the light. This is important for everyone, but particularly for people who sleep when it’s bright outside. Also, make sure your room is cool, between 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 18 degrees Celsius). Sleep on a comfortable, supportive mattress and foundation that offers you enough space to move around comfortably. And sleep in a room that’s quiet. The sleep environment is a very controllable part of good sleep – whether you’re sleeping during the day or at night. You can adjust the temperature, replace an uncomfortable or worn-out mattress, block out noise with earplugs or a white noise machine and keep lights out from your bedroom with dark blinds or eye shades. Now, mattresses come with technology fabrics that keep sleepers more cool and comfortable. Taylor Bedding Co. also makes mattresses in different firmness levels to accommodate individual comfort preferences.
Q. Is there a problem with falling asleep on the sofa watching television, not falling asleep in bed?
If you regularly fall asleep on your sofa, you may not be getting as much sleep as you need at night in your bed. Or maybe your sofa is more comfortable than your bed! In either case, you should make sure to practice good sleep habits – from sleeping on a comfortable, supportive mattress to not drinking alcohol too close to bedtime. And try to get more sleep – it may change how you feel during the day. If your easy chair or sofa is more comfortable than your current mattress, it is time to shop for a new mattress. Taylor Bedding Co. manufactures over 50 models of mattresses with different firmness, construction materials and fabrics to make sleeping in your own bed a pleasure.
Q. Where should I go for information if I think I have a sleep-related health problem?
Most of the time the quality of your sleep is well within your control with modifications to your lifestyle and sleeping environment. If you’ve tried the common sense tips from our website, and you know you’re sleeping in a restful bedroom environment including a comfortable and supportive mattress, you should see your doctor. You may have a medical condition that interferes with getting a good night’s sleep.
Q. What if there’s no time for sleep? What can people do to sleep better?
Sleep needs to be a health priority – just like proper nutrition and exercise. It affects every aspect of your day-to-day living. If you can’t say “yes” to sleep, make sure to make the most out of the sleep you get. Exercise regularly – people who exercise a few times a week sleep better than people who don’t. Also, avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco products late in the day. All these can interfere with sleep. You need to create a restful sleep environment so the sleep you get is restorative and uninterrupted. Sleep in a dark room, on a comfortable, supportive mattress. Create an enjoyable nighttime routine you can look forward to. Keep the room cool and quiet. And if you find yourself too stressed to sleep, try meditation or prayer to relax. Or take action and make a list of all the things you need to do. Once you’ve made your to-do list, give yourself permission to relax and sleep. You’ll need the energy to tackle your tasks in the morning.
Q. Can people make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping in on weekends?
No. If you sleep more on the weekends than during the week – and many of us do – this indicates that you have a “sleep debt.” A sleep debt accumulates when you don’t get enough sleep. The only way to reduce the debt is to sleep as much as your body needs every night. Make sure you’re getting the right quality of sleep as well. Sleep in a cool, dark, quiet room on a comfortable, supportive mattress to get your best night’s sleep.
Q. How can someone tell if they have a sleep disorder?
If you’ve looked at your sleep environment and your everyday routine to make sure you’re not sabotaging your sleep and you still feel sleepy after getting a full night’s sleep, you should see your doctor. You may have a medical condition that interferes with getting a good night’s sleep. There are many reasons why you may not be getting a good night’s sleep. Keep a journal with details of your sleep patterns and symptoms for a few days, and share this information with your doctor. Don’t wait too long to make an appointment. You need and deserve a good night’s sleep today.
Sleep Well. Live Well.
Fine Quality Mattresses since 1903