Beds - the importance of sleep

A good night's sleep - and the right choice of beds - is more important than you think.

As children, we're always told how important it is that we get the right amount of sleep. As teenagers, we resent our Saturday and Sunday morning lie-ins being disrupted by our parents and as adults we often go through life with very little sleep at all.

Sleep is important throughout our entire lives and a lack of sleep can have a serious effect on the way we perform at school and at work, as well as on our health in general. Our bodies really do need the time we spend in our beds to rest and recharge so that we have the energy we need for the day ahead.

What does "a good night's sleep mean?"

Experts recommend around 8 hours sleep for adults. Margaret Thatcher famously survived on just 4 or 5 hours each night, but that's exceptional and most people require more than that. A good night's sleep follows a routine and relies on a comfortable, supportive bed and a relaxing environment.

Why is it important?

New beds often bring the hope of better sleep. That's because people realise that an uncomfortable mattress may be the main cause of their aches and pains and know that a new, supportive mattress and solid bed base should improve their chances of sleeping better. And quality sleep is important because:

• Skills - research has shown that sleep helps to reinforce the things you've learned during the day as well as preparing you for the challenges that lie ahead. If you sleep badly, skills such as memory, paying attention and learning are likely to be adversely affected.

• Growth - sleep aids growth, which is why it's so important for the young. Often ignored by the time kids get to their teenage years, sleep is particularly important here, because there are so many physical and mental changes taking place.

• Healing - if you are unwell, your body often wants to sleep. If you go to work feeling ill, let yourself sleep when you get home - it encourages the healing process. If you fail to sleep when you are ill, because you have unsociable work hours or because you are depressed, you are likely to take longer to heal and become more susceptible to other illnesses.

Get the sleep you deserve by investing in one of our fantastic beds. Bed Next Day sells a range of traditional single, double, king and superking beds, most of which are available with next day delivery. Brands include Silentnight, the Original Bedstead Company, Sprung Land and Sealy. Take a look at the beds available on our website, www.mattressnextday.co.uk and order online today, or call 0844 3911 222 if you have any questions.