Does it seem to you that your days are getting longer and your nights shorter?You're not alone.
Today's busy lifestyle means more of our attention and hence our time is constantly pulled in multiple directions.
Work, family and civic responsibilities increasingly put pressure on each of us.
What do we tend to neglect first? Sleep.
Just look around the office.
Notice all the people loading up on caffeine first thing in the morning? Yet sufficient sleep is exactly the remedy for many of our problems.
Sufficient sleep relaxes and rejuvenates the body, while it refreshes the mind.
Note that I mention "sufficient" sleep.
Fact is, it's not just the amount of time we spend in bed that is important.
Equally vital is the quality of sleep.
The quality of sleep depends on a variety of factors.
Of course, a quiet environment is helpful, as is a relaxed state of mind.
If you are worried or anxious, then falling asleep is just so much harder.
And as you know, maintaining sleep is tougher if there's a load of troubles on your mind.
But many of these elements are sometimes beyond our control.
Perhaps the spouse sleeps with the TV playing all night; or the next-door neighbor's dog is a barker.
And even the calmest among us occasionally experiences periods of heightened stress and anxiety in our lives.
Let's face it--there are some nights even the most well-adjusted people tumble into bed chock-full of worry over tomorrow's problems.
But one component of a quality sleep we can control is the mattress we sleep on.
Although often overlooked, the right mattress is a key ally in the search for a higher quality of sleep.
Let's face it--if you are sleeping on a worn-out mattress, canceling out your good efforts in making sure you sleep in a quiet place and trying to relax before going to bed.
You'll lose out in your battle for a restful night's sleep.
There are several mattress options out there...
but that's the subject for another article.