Want Better Sleep in 2023? Try This.

New year, rested you? If getting more or better sleep is on your list of New Year's resolutions (it's at the top of ours!), then read on.

We all know that there's nothing quite like a good night's sleep when it comes to our health and happiness. It affects nearly every aspect of our health and plays a big role in our overall quality of life. Yet for so many of us, getting that good sleep can feel impossible.

Does that sound familiar? Do you toss and turn all night long, trying to count sheep but ending up counting down the hours instead? Well, we're here to help you leave that in the past and make 2023 your year of deep sleep.

Since we’ve made improving your sleep our business, we know there are many things that can disrupt a good quality rest. And we also know a thing or two about how you can fall asleep quicker, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling like new. You can upgrade your mattress to one that works with, rather than against, your unique sleep needs. You can freshen up your sleep hygiene. And...you can practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness is essentially the calm state of mind you can get to by focusing your awareness in the present moment. It involves staying centered in the present, while accepting every thought, emotion and physical sensation that arises.

Mindfulness is a highly effective way to calm down your body and ease your mind into a restful state. Because of that, mindfulness practices such as meditation and yoga are excellent to do before bed. These practices help dissolve stress, reduce tension, and bring your mind into a state of peace. 

Thinking of adding mindfulness practices into your nighttime routine, and are curious about how exactly it will benefit you?

Here are some of the ways that mindfulness can improve your sleep:

Mindfulness reduces stress (one of the biggest obstacles to good sleep!). 

Between work, family life, and the general chaos that comes from being a human in the modern world, stress is pretty much inevitable. And it often has a tendency to seep into our night, keeping us up late and tossing and turning throughout the night.

When we practice mindfulness, we are able to ground into the present moment and release the stress that built up over the day. We mentally take ourselves out of the situations that caused the stress earlier, and place ourselves into a place of relaxation and rest. It also helps us to see with greater clarity, perhaps helping us to realize that there is no need to stress at all.

Mindfulness can lower your cortisol and regulate your sleep-wake cycle

Emerging research suggests that mindfulness practices have a direct impact on cortisol levels, and therefore on overall sleep quality. Cortisol is a stress hormone that, when working properly, wakes us up in the morning and slowly decreases as the day goes on. When our cortisol is dysregulated, it's harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Mindfulness helps regulate your cortisol levels, so you can get your best night's sleep every night.

Mindfulness improves your overall focus and productivity

Mindfulness can be preemptive, too. By increasing your focus and productivity at work, you’ll be able to get more done, leading to less stress. Additionally, some research has suggested that mindfulness allows us to better differentiate between our work and home lives. This helps you keep your work stress in the office, rather than bringing it to bed with you. You can even try a short mid-day mindfulness practice to calm your brain and increase your focus even while at the office.

Mindfulness can treat certain sleep disorders

Mindfulness is an excellent first step in treating mild sleep disorders, as it doesn’t come with any of the side effects that other treatments may have. Several studies have suggested that mindfulness meditation practices have a positive effect on reducing insomnia, increasing sleep quality, and promoting deep sleep. It’s important to note that you should speak to your doctor about any suspected sleep disorders, and that mindfulness should not replace any existing treatment plans.

If you’ve tried everything and are still having sleep troubles, take a look at your mattress. If it’s old or uncomfortable, it can be a lot harder to fall asleep and stay asleep, and the sleep you do manage to get is more likely to be of poor quality. It's important to check in with the state of your mattress on a regular basis to see if it's supporting you, or working against you. 

Additionally, research shows that keeping cool can help you calm your nervous system, leading to a more mindful state. Especially at night, staying cool can create a positive feedback loop of mindfulness, body regulation, and good sleep. If you sleep hot, check out the Tempur-Pedic Breeze! The Tempur-Breeze collection is designed specifically to give you a cooler, deeper sleep.

It’s also important to note that sometimes our bodies or lives simply change, and that as they do, our ideal mattress changes too. If you’re finding that you’re uncomfortable or sleeping poorly, it might be time to reevaluate.

Want to test your options out in person? Come visit us at your nearest Sleep First to experience first-hand what our happy customers are saying about our top-notch selection, customer care, and good deals. We’ll be waiting to talk through your needs and guide you towards the best mattress for you.

Questions? Feel free to call, email or click the chat icon in the bottom corner of your screen-- we're here for you!

Want the VIP treatment? You can also book a private shopping experience with a trained mattress professional, in a zero-pressure environment here.

And keep an eye on our mattress sales to make sure you’re getting it for the best price possible!