Health and wellbeing

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 [] …

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 [] …

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 [] …

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 [] …

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 [] …

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 [] …

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. [] …

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 [] …

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 [] …

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 [] …

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. That is, quite simply, when a person sleeps once per day, generally around 7-9 hours at night. Now you’re likely [] …

Some of us swear by showering in the morning whilst others persist evening showering is the way to go. But what does science say about the effects of showering at these times? Or more specifically, are there benefits and drawbacks to our sleep when we bathe in the evening? This is what our blog is [] …

Mattressman has recently conducted a survey in order to find out how COVID-19 lockdowns have affected our sleep quality, patterns and habits. Our statistics were based on the answers from 700 respondents and revealed that lockdowns have worsened our sleep across these areas. Take a look at our infographic below to find out more When [] …

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 [] …

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, [] …

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 [] …

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: [] …

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 [] …

Going to university for the first time is certainly a daunting time, 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. For those who are off to stay in halls (of residence) or other student housing, you will want to make [] …

Are we really living in a land of sleep-deprived zombies? Do you find yourself waking on a daily basis to 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 [] …

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 [] …

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 based [] …

Today sees the start of National Stop Snoring Week, a weekdedicated to raising awareness and reminding people who suffer from the condition that they needn’t lose out on sleep because of it. Snoring can actually be treated very effectively. Snoring is caused when excess tissue in the throat vibrates whilst breathing in our sleep, and [] …

Nightmares are strange, arent 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 PJs. The fact that nightmares are so strange and terrifying is also what makes them so bloomin’ [] …

Many of us admit to not reading enough. For whatever reason, we can’t seem to find the time to pick up a book. But what about just before going to bed? Reading a book as part of your bedtime routine can be very beneficial to your sleep and it’s a great way to relax and [] …

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 [] …

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 [] …

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 [] …

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 schedules and daily stresses only increasing in our lives, [] …

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 [] …

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 [] …

Every year on 5th 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 English Catholics [] …

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 [] …

How much money would you be willing to spend on a full nights sleep? We spoke to the team at WantMattressto try and get a better picture of what your sleep is worth. It has shown that out of 11,000 people surveyed, only 1% could honestly say they wake up feeling refreshed and ready to [] …

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 [] …

This warm summer weather is great for BBQs and family fun, with everyone in good spirits and enjoying the fresh air. But it’s not always that great when it comes to bedtime. It can be a struggle to fall asleep in the summer, so we’ve come up with a few ideas to help you get [] …

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 [] …

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 [] …