It’s Good Night from them….the Sleep Council

We all know we feel better after a good night’s sleep but we don’t always get one. A recent survey by The Sleep Council shows that many of us are struggling to get enough sleep. The average amount is almost 90 minutes short of the recommended eight hours – just 6.6 hours sleep per person. The Sleep Council is a non profit organisation which aims to • Raise awareness of the importance of a good night’s sleep to health and wellbeing. • Provide helpful advice and tips on how to improve sleep quality. Provide helpful advice on choosing the right bed for optimum sleeping comfort, whether that’s a childrens bed, divan bed or any other style of bed available. They explain that without the right bed, you won’t be sleeping comfortably and a lack of quality sleep can impact both your physical and mental health. According to the website nearly three in ten people (29%) say getting a new bed would improve their sleep. They also quote a study by sleep expert Dr Chris Idzikowski which found that swapping an uncomfortable old bed for a comfortable new one could account for an average of 42 minutes' extra sleep, which is an incredible amount. The Sleep Council website (www.sleepcouncil.com) offers loads of useful advice on improving your sleep, from leaflets and guides with lots of practical tips, to videos showing relaxation and stretching exercises, and it’s all for free! There’s also advice on how to make the right choice when purchasing your bed. They have a great Bed Buyers guide which will take you through the whole process, from working out whether you need a new bed, what you should think about when choosing a new bed, even explaining the different types of mattresses and bases available. The “Bed Profile” is another useful tool they offer, which helps you identify the characteristics you should look for in a new bed or mattress based on your personal needs. There are lots of tips on how to test new beds before you buy and guidance for particular problems e.g. what sufferers of back pain should consider. No matter what your sleep problem might be, there’s plenty of help and support available through the comprehensive Helpful Links section. It’s a wonderful resource and can help all of us to achieve getting a bit closer to those elusive eight hours of quality sleep!