Sleep well, align your spine with new mattress

Poor sleep equals poor energy. That’s a no-brainier. And believe it or not, if you’re not getting the sleep you need, an outdated mattress may be the culprit.

Buy new mattress

If you’ve hung on to the same mattress for more than ten years – or if you’re waking up feeling stiff and sore – then it’s time to go mattress shopping. A new mattress can do wonders for your ability to get high-quality sleep. Which, of course, can do wonders for your energy level. Finding the right mattress is like finding the right mate – what’s perfect for one person is all wrong for the next. To underscore just how intensely personal mattress style is, Consumer Reports went through an exhaustive testing process to try to rate mattresses, and decided it was next to impossible. Because sleepers’ review were all over the map, the magazine couldn’t make a recommendation.

MATTRESSES MATTER
There is a dizzying array of styles, materials, and prices. Just going to the mattress store can drain your energy. But stick with it.

Innerspring mattresses are the most common, but there are also air beds and water beds and the exploding category of memory-foam mattresses (such as tempur-Pedic). There’s an energy-boosting mattress in there for you somewhere – you just need to take the time to find it!

Spend at least 15 minutes lying on a mattress in your normal sleeping pose, before shelling out your cash. If you share your bed, you and your mate should shop together. The right mattress takes your weight, sleeping style, and size into consideration. A good mattress and foundation will keep your spine aligned (it should look the same when you’re lying down as when you’re standing) and gently support your body.

Pay special attention to how your hips shoulders, and lower back feel. A lot of stores have a 30-day return policy – a good thing, because you may not really know how good (or bad) a mattress is until you actually sleep on it. So start shopping because choosing the right mattress means fewer muscle aches, better sleep, and more energy.

PILLOW TALK
Your pillow should offer enough support to cradle your neck and head. The optimum thickness depends on your sleeping style (and size).

If you sleep on your side, try a pillow that’s between 4 and 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) thick; stomach sleepers should have on about 3 inches (7.5 cm) thick; and if you sleep on your back, your pillow should be about 4 inches (10cm) thick. My personal favorite is the Primaloft Side Sleeper Pillow by Garnett Hill.