Tired of being tired?

At the end of an exhausting day, we should climb into bed, close our eyes and drift into sweet dreams. But many Australians are spending the night tossing and turning, unable to switch off from a busy day or find a comfy position.

A survey into our sleeping habits by IKEA found everything from workstress, outside noise, flatulent bed partners and uncomfortable mattresses are keeping us wide-eyed.
Almost three-quarters of the 2,400 respondents in the National Slumber Survey, conducted by the home furnishing giant, claimed to be sleep deprived. While job stress was claimed to keep more than half of those surveyed awake; 90 per cent of those who share a bed were quick to point the finger at their partner for the lack of shut-eye. Around 12 per cent of respondents also admitted to sleeping with a pet in bed.

Dr Keith Wong from Royal Prince Alfred’s Hospital Sleep Unit says he is surprised by just how many people reported interrupted slumber. Most people average between seven to eight hours sleep a night, although some will need more and others will be able to survive on very little. Studies suggest we are now sleeping one to two hours less than back in 1910. “With things such as artificial lighting and a lot of demands on work, social lives and electronic gadgets we might unfortunately put a bit less emphasis on the amount of sleep that we get during the night,” Dr Wong said.

Hormones, stress, depression and snoring can affect sleep, but problems can also be the result of bad habits or environment. It is important to listen to your own body clock and only go to bed when you feel tired, Dr Wong says. While many people blame their partner for their restless night due to snoring or even sleep talking, the real culprit could be the bedroom. Ideally it should be a dark and quiet sanctuary, clear of allergens such as dust and mould. It should also be free of electronic devices such as TVs, computers or mobile phones.

According to the survey, uncomfortable bedding is a major cause of sleep loss with 12 percent of respondents admitting they had not replaced their mattress in more than a decade. Almost one-third of people who had bought a new one confessed they did not act until the springs were poking out of their old bed. IKEA spokeswoman Angela McCann says it is important to choose the right mattress that not only supports the back and body type but also how a person moves around while sleeping. They found most people do not just lie on their front or side or back. Instead they identified with positions such as a ‘bug’, ‘snuggler’, ‘starfish’ or ‘log’.

“The secret to quality shut-eye is different for everyone but starts with the basics—the right mattress,” Ms McCann says.

Source: bodyandSoul