Health and wellbeing

Many of us who have been on a long-haul flight will be familiar with jet lag. With this in mind, Dr David Garley’s latest article examines jet lag and how it affects us. Well also look at the best ways to deal with jet lag, allowing for complete peace of mind when you travel abroad. [] …

Dr David Garley01 Oct, 2024

Sleep is often on our minds, and we can frequently find ourselves looking for ways to improve our sleep quality and quantity. Recently, melatonin has thrown its hat into the ring to achieve this. With this in mind, Dr David Garley has created a blog exploring melatonin and its role in sleep. What is melatonin? [] …

Dr David Garley29 Aug, 2024

Sleeping in the heat can be so tricky. When its cold, things are a little uncomfortable but if you stay still and warm the bit of the bed youre in, youll eventually drift off. But when its too hot, its an entirely different ball game! Why does heat make such a difference? Our latest [] …

Dr David Garley07 Aug, 2024

Festival season is well and truly upon us, and few things compare to spending time with family and friends and listening to your favourite artists. However, sleep isn’t always easy to come by. A combination of adrenaline, excitement and noise often paves the way for a disrupted night’s rest.  In our blog, we explore why [] …

Ed Steer03 Jul, 2024

With a seemingly endless number of mattresses on the market, youd be forgiven for feeling a tad overwhelmed. As the Consumer Reports explains Mattresses are a blind purchase: They all look the same, and the features that distinguish one from another are sealed inside, making it difficult for you to know exactly what youre buying. [] …

Ed Steer01 May, 2024

Replacing your mattress is often a task we put off until we cant bear the thought of yet another uncomfortable nights sleep. For weeks or months, we put a new mattress on the bottom of the priorities list because of how expensive it could cost, or we endure discomfort in the hope that the mattress [] …

Ed Steer01 Feb, 2024

For those with first-hand experience of sleepwalking, it can seem ironic- even whilst asleep during the night, we cant seem to switch off entirely. Our blog explores this concept in greater detail and outlines the causes and impacts of sleepwalking.  So, what is sleepwalking? NHS define sleepwalking as when someone walks or carries out complex [] …

Ed Steer15 Jan, 2024

We all sleep differently- whether you like to dangle your leg out of bed or steal the duvet off your partner whenever an opportune moment arises, we all have our individual sleep habits. Something that often causes debate is how many pillows you should sleep on. More often than not, people will sleep with one [] …

Ed Steer11 Jan, 2024

It can often be a vicious cycle whereby your stress causes sleepless nights, and in turn, a lack of sleep causes stress. Our blog explores the relationship between stress and sleep in greater detail and offers valuable tips on maintaining a good nights sleep even during adverse moments. So, can sleep reduce stress? Apart from [] …

Ed Steer09 Jan, 2024

The painstaking process of clock-watching or scrolling through your phone when you know full well that you should be fast asleep is far from ideal. During these times, you’ll do just about anything to help you drift off, and we often find that people struggling to fall asleep will switch their attention to music in [] …

Ed Steer29 Nov, 2023

Considering the many mattress types on the market, the different benefits and the range of tensions to choose from, it can be challenging to settle on the perfect mattress for you. With this in mind, many people purchase a mattress that is either too soft or too firm for their liking. Our blog discusses what [] …

Ed Steer15 Nov, 2023

With a seemingly never-ending choice of mattress types and fillings, you have every right to settle on the mattress that’s tailor-made for you and promises to deliver the perfect night’s sleep. One of the most popular options on the market are memory foam mattresses, and for good reason, courtesy of their superb comfort and support. [] …

Ed Steer31 Oct, 2023

If you find yourself tossing and turning during the night in search of comfort, it’s probably an indicator that your mattress is either too soft or too firm for you. That Goldilocks moment and the realisation that you’ve found the perfect bed is easier said than done an unfortunately, almost all of us have encountered [] …

Ed Steer12 Oct, 2023

Allergies often impact sleep quality and quantity, however this isnt to say there arent ways in which you can overcome or combat allergies. In this blog, we discuss the common allergens, how they impact sleep and the actions you can take to improve your nights rest for a sustained period. So, what are allergies? Allergic [] …

Dr David Garley26 Sep, 2023

Menopause significantly affects day-to-day life, with a common factor being a poor standard of sleep. However, this isn’t to say there aren’t ways in which menopause can’t be managed; in this blog, we explain the effects of menopause on sleep and the different treatments to consider. What is menopause? Menopause refers to the point in [] …

Dr David Garley05 Sep, 2023

Back pain is a prevalent complaint, with the cause of back pain often varying between patients; back pain can be offset by different structures in the back, including the bones, muscles, ligaments and nerves. Continue reading to discover the ways in which you can combat back pain. What causes back pain? Fractures can occur with [] …

Dr David Garley31 Aug, 2023

If youre finding it difficult to sleep whilst pregnant, youre not alone; during the third trimester, insomnia affects around 64% of pregnant people. However, this doesnt mean that there arent ways in which you can be proactive and look to combat any sleep-related issues. Continue reading for insight into how you can overcome a poor [] …

Ed Steer31 Aug, 2023

In a relationship, we often talk about compatibility. We talk about matching personality types, interests and opinions, and many apps are now available that assess two individuals’ compatibility to help you find the perfect match. This can be incredibly successful but one thing that can stick out on the compatibility front is your sleeping [] …

Dr David Garley08 Aug, 2023

Achieving a good standard of sleep is often referred to as ‘sleep hygiene’. These routines and practices put your mind and body into the right state for sleep and make the sleeping environment the best possible place for a great night’s rest. The bedroom features many roles. As well as being the place where you [] …

Dr David Garley27 Jul, 2023

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea are related conditions on either end of a vast spectrum.On one end, you have mild, piglet-esque snores that cause mild irritation at worst and are associated with no health issues whatsoever. This snoring can progress into a more robust machinery clatter, through to an apocalyptic thunder that frequently results in [] …

Dr David Garley20 Jul, 2023

I’m sure we’ve all been there at one point or another where we underestimate the fear factor of a horror movie. It’s usually a case of our pride talking over, and we convince ourselves and others that the film ‘wasn’t even that scary’. However, if you find yourself asking for company whilst you venture to [] …

Ed Steer09 Jun, 2023

For anyone who wears makeup, I’m sure youve pondered at one point or another whether it’s worth the hassle of removing it before bedtime. This thought process usually coincides with returning from a party or social event late at night, exhausted and ready to turn in for the night. Whilst the need to remove makeup [] …

Ed Steer01 Jun, 2023

Sleep syncing often crops up in conversations concerning how we can improve our productivity levels and stay more alert daily. However, theres not always a widespread understanding of sleep syncing and its significance. This blog explains sleep syncing in greater detail to ensure a more comprehensive understanding. There are many layers to sleep syncing, and [] …

Ed Steer16 May, 2023

Daylight saving hours, we can sometimes view as a blessing; other times, its a curse. Of course, this depends on whether the clocks are springing forward or falling back, of which the latter is favoured so we can enjoy an extra hour of sleep. Disrupting our body clocks, or circadian rhythm, is far from beneficial. [] …

Chloe Baxter20 Mar, 2023

So often, we reach a slump during the middle of the day or hit the wall; its not uncommon to feel our eyes getting heavy or too tired to divert our gaze when sitting at a desk, and we often declare that we are sleep deprived during these periods. With a 2022 study revealing 64.0% [] …

Ed Steer15 Mar, 2023

Carrying out athletics at any level requires significant focus and training. When we think of elite athletes training, we probably visualise some physically gruelling Rocky-style training montage involving thousands of press-ups, chin-ups and ridiculously fast skipping. There might even be a couple of scenes involving eating raw eggs or downing a protein shake. Probably no [] …

Dr David Garley13 Feb, 2023

In regard to sharing a bed with a partner, snoring is a commonality and often has a detrimental impact on one of the two sleepers in bed. We often wake up in the morning, explain to our partner how loud their snoring was the night before, and wonder how they didnt wake up during the [] …

Ed Steer10 Feb, 2023

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder where your upper airway repeatedly closes when you sleep. This stops your breathing and results in extremely poor quality and fragmented sleep. It causes a huge negative impact on quality of life and is associated with developing a wide range of significant physical and mental health [] …

Dr David Garley07 Feb, 2023

We are frequently reminded of the need to be healthy – to exercise regularly and to eat well. But something is missing from this advice. One of the most fundamental models of health is called The Three Pillars, which refers to exercise, nutrition and sleep. The impact of sleep is frequently overlooked, but this article [] …

Dr David Garley24 Jan, 2023

If you have ever been to see your doctor due to insomnia, you may have been recommended cognitive behavioural therapy. While its a very effective treatment, a problem frequently encountered is that no one knows what it actually is. The name itself gives little away. This article aims to shed some light on this effective [] …

Dr David Garley18 Jan, 2023

Insomnia is the difficulty in falling asleep, staying asleep or waking early. It causes poor daytime functioning, including poor concentration, mood disturbance and fatigue. Its widespread, with around 10% of the adult population suffering from it at any time. Having an occasional bad nights sleep is something we all experience from time to time and [] …

Dr David Garley15 Jan, 2023

It has long been known that adequate quality and quantity of sleep are needed for good health. In an exact way instructions exist for achieving health through a balanced diet or regular exercise; there are also instructions for gaining health through a good nights sleep. These instructions are known as sleep hygiene. But whats with [] …

Dr David Garley10 Jan, 2023

If youre affected by anxiety, and it prevents you from quickly falling asleep at night, youre not alone. According to Mind, 1 in 6 people report experiencing anxiety or depression in any given week in England. Therefore, having trouble falling asleep is a common issue among people affected by anxiety. Todays blog will go through the [] …

Chloe Baxter06 Jan, 2023

Much is written about how sleep is similar to eating and drinking in terms of how essential it is to live. However, these other bodily functions are very much under our voluntary control. Why is it that the control of sleep is placed outside of our command? Indeed, the more we attempt to chase sleep, [] …

Dr David Garley04 Jan, 2023

In the technology-driven world in which we live, many bedrooms feature a television; its common in bedrooms across the country. Whereas bedroom rituals used to consist of late-night reading, this has largely been replaced by boxsets on the television. There isnt anything wrong with watching television in the evening, and you should not feel guilty [] …

Ed Steer30 Dec, 2022

Sleep is a difficult thing to define. It doesnt fit easily in any box – which only adds to its great enigma. Until recently, sleep was seen as a passive, almost dormant state of rest. While rest is clearly a crucial part of sleep, we now know that on a cellular level, the brain is [] …

Dr David Garley28 Dec, 2022

2023 is almost upon us, so no doubt a lot of us are starting to think up some ideas for our resolutions. Today, were going to vouch for why getting better sleepshouldbe our top resolution. Common New Years resolutions Sometimes a simple goal is easier to work towards, depending on what kind of person you [] …

Chloe Baxter28 Dec, 2022

The likelihood is that a baby will spend more time asleep than theyre awake; whilst their daily sleep varies, a baby will spend anywhere between 8 hours up to 18 hours asleep; it is, therefore, crucial that your baby is dressed appropriately in their cot. What is the risk of a room that is either [] …

Ed Steer21 Dec, 2022

We know the importance of a good nights sleep on our mental health and how crucial it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Sharing a bed with a partner can be tricky at times, especially when it comes to duvet hogging. If this is a particular struggle with your sleeping arrangements, consider the Scandinavian sleep [] …

Chloe Baxter13 Dec, 2022

We have a close affiliation with our bed; such is the comfort and solace they provide. From lazy Sunday mornings to late-night movie marathons and everything in between, we spend a remarkable amount of time in bed. However, how much do we really know about mattresses and beds? For a lighthearted and enjoyable break in [] …

Ed Steer07 Dec, 2022

Sleeping in a shared bed with your partner, no doubt, brings a sense of closeness that can make you feel happy. Additionally, you may have a rigid bedtime routine with your partner that helps you nod off easier at night. But if one or both of you are affected by a case of snoring or [] …

Chloe Baxter28 Nov, 2022

You may have heard about a sleep chronotype and thought, what in the world is that? Todays article explores precisely what a sleep chronotype or profile is, how you discover yours, and other interesting findings. What is a sleep chronotype? There are four chronotypes, and they are determined by various factors, including the circadian rhythm, [] …

Chloe Baxter08 Nov, 2022

It’s recommended that adults should sleep for seven or more hours per night, however, almost 1 in 5 people in the UK aren’t getting enough sleep. In addition to this, insomnia is a common problem throughout the world and is believed to affect approximately 33% of the worlds population, highlighting just how problematic a poor [] …

Ed Steer26 Oct, 2022

What is cannabidiol or CBD? The term CBD has been thrown around more in recent years. Its growing popularity is for several reasons, with many vouching for its effectiveness in reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and treating conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease. CBD stands for cannabidiol, a natural derivative of marijuana [] …

Chloe Baxter18 Oct, 2022

Unfortunately, there are some real negative effects that can come from staring at our screens all day, with the UK average being 3 hours and 23 minutes. This rises significantly in the 16-24-year-old age group, who spend an average of four hours a day looking at their mobiles. The screens on these devices can emit [] …

Chloe Baxter26 Sep, 2022

Unfortunately, getting a good night’s sleep isn’t always as straightforward as we’d like it to be. Creating the right conditions for sleep is usually key, but what if you’ve tried this and are still struggling? We all know the common sleeping tips such as drinking chamomile tea, having a relaxing bath, and minimising light and [] …

Chloe Baxter02 Sep, 2022

Dry mouth is very common and typically at its worst when trying to sleep; in fact, it’s experienced by about 22% of the population. While medically known as xerostomia, dry mouth is a condition that is self-defined by the individual based on how dry they personally feel their mouth is. The Symptoms of Dry Mouth [] …

Chloe Baxter18 Aug, 2022

This summers high temperatures have affected most of the UK, making it difficult for many people to get a good nights sleep. Luckily, there are things you can do to beat the heat this summer. Here are some of our top tips to sleep in hot weather. 1. Get a fan The first tip is [] …

Chloe Baxter29 Jul, 2022

Over the past 20 years, sleep science has advanced dramatically, giving researchers a better understanding of how sleep functions, why its important, and how it might be disturbed. Despite this, its still typical to come across false information regarding sleep thats spread online, via social media, or by word-of-mouth. Some of this false information is [] …

Chloe Baxter13 Jul, 2022

Your daily routine, hobbies, health, and sleeping habits all affect how much sleep you require each night. While certain people, like athletes, may require an extra hour of sleep, older adults may just need six hours. Sometimes, you’ll need more sleep than usual, for example, after engaging in strenuous activities or traveling. If getting an [] …

Chloe Baxter03 Jul, 2022

Famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud suggested that the latent content of our minds manifests in our dreams; that the qualities and desires lying dormant day-to-day come to light at night, when our minds become active during REM sleep. Freud theorised that certain symbols and stories represented different things when they appear in our dreams, and that [] …

Chloe Baxter14 Jun, 2022

Be honest; how often do you turn things off standby? Sometimes it can feel like those pesky red lights serve no other purpose other than to tease you into getting out of your comfy bed only to switch off a socket. Fortunately, standby lights do remind us of the wider problem with continual energy use: [] …

Chloe Baxter06 Jun, 2022

A good night’s sleep should be considered in the same way as regular exercise and eating healthily. Everyone should be aiming for a minimum of seven hours’ sleep, with eight being the ideal amount. But what actually is sleep deprivation, and how can it affect your health? What is Sleep Deprivation? Sleep deprivation has a [] …

Chloe Baxter30 May, 2022

Do you find your energy dwindling when the warmer weather emerges? Some people refer to this as Spring Fatigue. While it isn’t an actual medical or psychological disorder, there are hints as to where the common symptoms come from and what may be done to avoid them. Spring Fatigue can be frustrating when it seems [] …

Chloe Baxter30 May, 2022

As we come into the spring and summer months, hay fever makes sleeping a lot more difficult for thousands of people every night. Fortunately, there are ways of combating the symptoms of puffy eyes and stuffy noses that can help you retain your usual sleep pattern, even when dealing with an increased pollen count. Here [] …

Chloe Baxter11 May, 2022

Sleep paralysis describes a temporary state of immobility in which you may feel awake but cannot move. It is estimated that 75% of sleep paralysis episodes involve hallucinations and, sometimes, it can feel like someone is in your bedroom or that there is a great pressure on your chest. While it can be a frightening [] …

Chloe Baxter29 Apr, 2022

There’s nothing more exciting than travel. After working hard for months at a time, every so often, we book ourselves a holiday to get away from the stresses of everyday life. Sometimes, these holidays take us thousands of miles away to the furthest corners of the globe. At this point, we start to experience symptoms [] …

Chloe Baxter29 Apr, 2022

REM sleep is perhaps the most important stage of the dream cycle. During it, the brain is active in a very similar way to when you’re awake, and for this reason, is sometimes also known as paradoxical or desynchronised sleep. REM sleep is crucial for the brain’s development and processing at the end of a [] …

Chloe Baxter21 Mar, 2022

The elusive art of lucid dreaming is a difficult thing to comprehend. Used for multiple reasons including psychological therapy, muscular rehabilitation and, of course, relaxation, lucid dreaming is an effective way of controlling your dreams as you wish. But, what are the benefits of lucid dreaming, and what causes lucid dreams to begin with? If [] …

Chloe Baxter21 Mar, 2022

Let’s face it: sometimes, 8 hours just isn’t enough. Between work, social lives and personal time, our bedtime routines simply can’t cut it. This is where the power of a good nap comes into play. Of course, it’s important to remember that there are many different views on naps, with some researchers believing them to [] …

Chloe Baxter21 Mar, 2022

As one of the most common conditions associated with sleep, sleep apnoea has received a lot of attention from doctors and medical researchers. Cases can be mild or severe, but there is one shared problem across the board: discomfort. No matter how old you are or what your physical health looks like, sleep apnoea can [] …

Chloe Baxter03 Mar, 2022

Do you find yourself waking up with inexplicable aches and pains all over your body despite getting 8 hours of rest? You’re not alone. When we sleep, our bodies toss and turn to find comfort. It’s something that we have no say in, which can make it difficult to control. If these seemingly random, continuous [] …

Chloe Baxter02 Mar, 2022

We all have different night-time rituals: some can’t sleep without a hot mug of tea, others religiously read a chapter of a book every night. However, some of us choose to distract ourselves with the power of music. Music is a powerful thing. It can stir up emotions, encourage us to dance and remind us [] …

Chloe Baxter16 Feb, 2022

In humans, a low heart rate is a sign of good health. Throughout the day, our heart rates fluctuate depending on what we’re doing, with strenuous activities such as weightlifting, cardio and exercise, in general, causing our heart rates to increase.  At nighttime, our heart rates typically descend as we relax into the night, but [] …

Chloe Baxter14 Feb, 2022

There’s some talk on the internet that taking vitamin supplements can help us sleep better at night. How true is this though? Is there any evidence that proves this to be certain? We’ll take a deep dive into answering these questions to find out what actually is the effect of supplements on how we sleep. [] …

Chloe Baxter17 Nov, 2021

Have you ever heard of sleep inertia? It’s not a common term, however, it’s something most of us are affected by on a regular basis, especially if you’re not a morning person. Essentially, it’s the transitional physiological state between being asleep and awake, usually marked by impaired sensory-motor performance immediately following waking up. Sleep inertia [] …

Chloe Baxter09 Nov, 2021

With such a large choice of sleep apps in the market, which one is actually the best? What app produces the best results? Surprisingly, this question is rather hard to answer due to the large range of purposes that each sleep app serves. What might be the best for one person may be the worst [] …

Chloe Baxter25 Oct, 2021

Often elusive, sleep disorders are complex to understand and treat. Here we explain what some of the most common and well-known sleep disorders are, their symptoms, potential causes and how people affected go about treatment. Insomnia One of the more common sleep disorders, symptoms of insomnia are struggling to go to sleep even though you’re [] …

Chloe Baxter11 Oct, 2021

You’ve probably opened this page and thought, what in the world is monophasic sleep? It’s not a word that’s thrown around frequently, but it’s a routine that the majority of people follow in their lives. It is, quite simply, when a person sleeps once per day, generally around 7-9 hours at night. Now you’re likely [] …

Chloe Baxter17 Aug, 2021

Waking up with back or neck pain is certainly not the way you want to start your days. Whilst we spend a third of our lives laying on our mattresses, it’s important to find the one that can adequately support both our body weight and promote healthy spine alignment. Without this, it could result in [] …

Chloe Baxter29 Jul, 2021

These days, humanity has become accustomed to sleeping on a totally flat, comfortable mattress on top of a bed frame. It’s a standard that we have all come to accept, but it’s not the only way. Sleeping on an incline or Inclined Bed Therapy (IBT) as it’s more commonly known, has many health benefits that [] …

Chloe Baxter30 Jun, 2021

We all have different preferences when it comes to showering; some of us swear by showering in the morning whilst others insist an evening shower before bed is the way to go. Whichever side of the fence you sit on, you’ve likely been stuck to a routine for quite some time and feel no reason [] …

Chloe Baxter04 May, 2021

Daylight saving hours sometimes feel like a blessing or a curse for an array of reasons. This March, we’re putting the clocks forward on the last Sunday of the month which is both good and bad: providing us with more sunlight but throwing off our internal body clock by losing an hours sleep. This year [] …

Chloe Baxter25 Mar, 2021

AtMattressman, we recently conducted a survey to find out how COVID-19 lockdowns have affected our sleep quality, patterns and habits. Our statistics are based on the answers from 700 respondents, revealing that lockdowns have worsened our sleep across multiple areas. Sleep Quality Sure, sleep quality can have a variety of meanings attributed to it. Here, [] …

Chloe Baxter22 Feb, 2021

Whether you think you’ve been sleeping better or worse since March of 2020, there’s no doubt that the word ‘lockdown’ is simply associated with negativity. However, many studies have shown whilst there may have been some negative effects on our sleep patterns due to lockdowns, there are also some positive ones too… No matter what [] …

Chloe Baxter19 Jan, 2021

All of those avid gamers out there know the PlayStation 5 is released this week (finally!), and the Xbox series X was already released earlier this month. No doubt the long anticipation will mean were going to want to spend endless hours playing, and whilst this is exactly what a lot of us will do, [] …

Chloe Baxter18 Nov, 2020

When it comes to napping, many people think ‘the longer, the better’. But is that true? If you have a long nap and still wake up feeling hazy and unrefreshed, it’s probably because you woke up in the middle of a sleep cycle. If you don’t know how the sleep cycle works, we recommend that [] …

Chloe Baxter11 Nov, 2020

Ever wondered what your sleeping position says about you? According to the study conducted by Professor Chris Iszikowski, these are the personality types that have been linked to sleeping positions and how common they are The sleeping positions Fetal position 41% By far one of the most popular sleeping positions, people who prefer to [] …

Chloe Baxter05 Nov, 2020

Spring forward, fall back… you’re probably thinking: I’m glad we get an extra hours sleep this time. Also known as daylight saving hours, putting the clocks back on the last Sunday of October provides us with more sunlight in the mornings for the winter months (and less in the evenings, unfortunately). This year the hour [] …

Chloe Baxter23 Oct, 2020

Do you know how the sleep cycle works? It certainly isn’t as straightforward as going to sleep at night and waking up in the morning. Your body goes through multiple cycles every night that all vary in levels of brain activity. So here are the four stages of sleep that we go through… Stage 1: [] …

Chloe Baxter08 Oct, 2020

We are all guilty of hitting the snooze button when we feel like we’re not well-rested enough or simply out of habit. If you’re a culprit of doing this, you’ll certainly understand the feeling of waking to the first alarm, falling back into what feels like a deep sleep, to then being startled by your [] …

Chloe Baxter21 Feb, 2020

Sometimes food myths are thrown around and it’s hard to know whether it’s even okay to eat before bed or not, let alone what foods are suitable as a late-night snack. That being said, it’s okay to eat a snack before bed if you’re feeling peckish, but it’s important not to go overboard. If you [] …

Chloe Baxter20 Sep, 2019

Going to university for the first time is certainly daunting. But, if you’re fully prepared with all your home comforts then you’ll be an unstoppable force in your academics, societies, and social situations. Amidst all the new information to digest, it’s possible you may have spent a couple of late nights catching up with your [] …

Chloe Baxter06 Sep, 2019

Are we really living in a land of sleep-deprived zombies? Do you find yourself waking on a daily basis feeling as though you’ve not slept at all, leaving you to take on the day life-less? Recent research would suggest that due to various reasons, we are turning into a nation of zombies living off caffeine [] …

Chloe Baxter31 Oct, 2018

World Statistics Day is celebrated every 5 years and was designated by the United Nations in 2010 as the first World Stats Day was born, it is a day designed to highlight the importance of reliable data which allows us to create informed decisions and it is a day that is recognised globally. With today [] …

Chloe Baxter19 Oct, 2018

The season of pumpkin spice and cosy knitwear is here and with it comes a clock change and much darker evenings. Thanks to these seasonal changes, our sleep routines are likely to need some adjusting as well. So how can we make the most of our sleep and how can we really prepare for a [] …

Chloe Baxter15 Oct, 2018

Whether it’s a late night or the kids are keeping you awake, most of us are no strangers to a broken night’s sleep once in a while. But if you struggle regularly with getting to sleep, it may be worth asking: could the answer to your lack of shut-eye be hidden in your diet? Scientists [] …

Chloe Baxter30 May, 2018

Nightmares are strange, aren’t they? You get into bed, shut your eyes and then in what feels like a couple of seconds, you can be fighting off creepy crawlies or find yourself in a social situation in your PJ’s. The fact that nightmares are so strange and terrifying is also what makes them so bloomin’ [] …

Chloe Baxter13 Apr, 2018

Upon reading the title of this blog, you could be forgiven for thinking that we’d forgotten how to count. However, numberphiles can sleep easy, because today’s blog isn’t about counting but rather a clever little breathing exercise that’s currently making the rounds online. The breathing exercise in question is called ‘4-7-8’, and some tabloids claim [] …

Chloe Baxter21 Feb, 2018

Can bedtime reading actually help me sleep? Believe it or not,bedtime reading is able to improve sleep quality; research reveals that reading for a short time before bed may help you stay asleep longer. Additionally, opting to read a book instead of scrolling through your phone for example, combats the risk of blue light and [] …

Ed Steer25 Jan, 2018

Smoothies are a quick and simple way of adding plenty of healthy food to your diet – and with minimal effort and the right tools to hand, you can easily whip up something that’s delicious to enjoy anytime during the day, as well as being a great way of promoting a good nights sleep. There [] …

Chloe Baxter23 Jan, 2018

Do your resolutions for 2018 involve adding more exercise to your weekly routine? If you’re struggling to muster that much-needed motivation to get the ball rolling this month, then we have a theory here at Mattressman that we’d like to test… Consider this: how did you sleep last night? In fact, how have you slept [] …

Chloe Baxter19 Jan, 2018

We all know the relaxing effect of a glass of wine, particularly after a long day at work. But does a nightcap really help you get a good night’s sleep, or does it simply make you feel drowsy? Well, because alcohol is a relaxant, drinking a glass of your favourite Merlot in the evening can [] …

Chloe Baxter17 Jan, 2018

Were all familiar with the saying you are what you eat, but how about the phrase healthy eating, healthy sleeping? Its said that we should avoid eating just before bed if we want to keep our sleep pattern at its best, but is that always the case? What about eating things that are not only [] …

Chloe Baxter16 Jan, 2018

With so much to do ahead of Christmas, the last few weeks of 2017 passed us by at lightning speed, and now the pressure is on to make up for lost time and dive head first into our New Year’s resolutions. Two of the most popular resolutions that people make at this time of year [] …

Chloe Baxter15 Jan, 2018

Richard Wiseman, an academic famed for researching unusual areas of psychology, conducted a study to find out how people actually achieve their New Year’s resolutions, from losing weight to drinking less. Wiseman tracked the progress of 3,000 people as they attempted a range of different resolutions, and the findings were pretty optimistic at first, with [] …

Chloe Baxter29 Dec, 2017

Hibernation season is here and as the temptation to burrow under the duvet morning, noon and night increases, there are a few things that we tend to add to our sleep routines to keep us warm. Of course, we want to be as cosy as possible when we sleep, especially during the winter, but there [] …

Chloe Baxter01 Dec, 2017

Weve all been there: you go to lunch, eat a meal, and then by 3pm the afternoon sleepies have kicked in. It can be really demotivating if you feel sleepy at work, particularly when you have jobs mounting up and to-do lists to complete. However, with busy schedulesand daily stresses only increasing in our lives, [] …

Chloe Baxter22 Nov, 2017

This week sees the start of self-care week, a whole week dedicated to taking time out for you and your family’s health and wellbeing. The event takes place annually and since its beginning in 2011, it has focused on promoting the importance of practising regular self-care for individuals, families and communities. Last year, Self-Care Awareness [] …

Chloe Baxter14 Nov, 2017

The idea of finding a colleague asleep at work is quite an awkward thought for most of us. On finding a workmate in repose, we would probably all be guilty of suspecting them of slacking off or feeling unwell. This view of napping isn’t as universal as you may think though. In fact, Japanese workers [] …

Chloe Baxter09 Nov, 2017

Every year on the 5th of November, we observe an array of spectacular displays to mark the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. But for some pet owners, this has become a dreaded evening of the year. The Gunpowder Plot was a failed conspiracy led by Robert Catesby; the aim was for him and his group of [] …

Chloe Baxter03 Nov, 2017

We’ve had this question ringing in our ears for a while: can we sneeze in our sleep? We don’t think anyone has ever done it, but does that mean it’s impossible? You’d think that with eating, talking and walking in our sleep being very much possible, that sneezing whilst asleep would be too! Well, if [] …

Chloe Baxter20 Oct, 2017

As human beings, around a third of our lives are spent sleeping. If we don’t get enough good quality sleep, we’ll find ourselves unable to function properly from day to day, not to mention the impact it can have on our health. With that in mind, it’s not uncommon to worry about how many hours [] …

Chloe Baxter18 Oct, 2017

Everyone knows how to keep a diary and you’ve probably written one or two in your time, but you may not know about keeping a regular sleep diary. Journaling your dreams, the quality of your sleep and how you feel in the morning can be very beneficial to tracking any patterns in your routine [] …

Chloe Baxter25 Sep, 2017

It’s widely known that keeping a bedtime routine, regular exercise, eating healthily and relaxing before you go to bed are known to help improve your sleep, but what happens when you’re away from home and can’t keep to your normal routine? Maybe you’re away on a work trip or on a family holiday, after being [] …

Chloe Baxter22 Sep, 2017

We’d all like less stressful life, but with our busy routines alongside general life pressures, being stress-free can seem more of a dream than a reality. So much so, that it may be affecting us more than we think, potentially even causing us to lose out on valuable sleep because of it. We’ve compiled a [] …

Chloe Baxter15 Sep, 2017

As we say goodbye to the summer, it’s time to get excited about the kids heading back to school, which means a new uniform, new stationery, and of course, getting back into a sensible sleep routine. After plenty of playtimes and longer evenings, all the excitement can mean that getting back into a proper routine [] …

Louis28 Aug, 2017

For many people, the summer months are the best time of the year. With the sun shining, drinks flowing, and BBQs playing an integral part in gatherings, there is nothing quite like summer. However, a good night’s rest isn’t always easy to come by during these warmer months, and with this in mind, we’ve put [] …

Ed Steer11 Jul, 2017

This month, the Sleep Council has been running its brilliant “May be Time for a New Mattress!” campaign, encouraging people to replace their old, worn-out mattresses. Did you know that even if your mattress seems fine, it might not be? How do you tell? Find out below Is it seven years or older? Even if [] …

Chloe Baxter26 May, 2015

Hay fever typically starts to rear its ugly head around summertime, however, pesky dust mites can really disrupt your sleep. Dust mites can be a problem the whole year-round, but they prefer warm, humid environments. A dust allergy can make other allergy symptoms, including hay fever symptoms, much worse. Dust mites Dust mites are microscopic [] …

Chloe Baxter20 Apr, 2015

When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, everyone’s got their little tricks, whether its earplugs, a hot bath before bed, or arranging your pillows just so each night. But did you know that there are a few things that, no matter how good an idea they might seem at the time, can actually [] …

Chloe Baxter18 Feb, 2015

Ever been rudely awoken by an elbow in the back or a kick in the shins? Or found yourself trying to quietly ease your partner out of the cosy blanket burrito they’ve made themselves, leaving you shivering, without disturbing them? Or thrown all politeness out the window and thwacked them in the head with a [] …

Chloe Baxter28 Apr, 2014

80% of adults in the UK will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives*. Though for many people the pain is only temporary, it can negatively affect their day-to-day life, including their sleep. And of course, sleeping badly can have a knock-on effect on everything else. Not being able to sleep for [] …

Chloe Baxter16 Apr, 2014

How much sleep should you aim to get a night? The results of studies vary. Researchers at the University of California have said that we need at least six hours of sleep a night so that we can recharge our batteries and absorb the new information weve learned throughout the day. There are some who [] …

Chloe Baxter06 Dec, 2013

On every high street, coffee shops are the setting for lunch breaks and catch-ups with friends. Its considered polite to offer caffeinated drinks to our guests. And, of course, were all familiar with that mid-afternoon feeling where wed like nothing more than to go back to bed but instead stick the kettle on for an [] …

Chloe Baxter19 Nov, 2013