Invest In Your Bed This Sleeptember

This month our friends over at The Sleep Charity are launching their annual awareness campaign, Sleeptember.

Running throughout September, it is a month dedicated to highlighting the healthy benefits of a good night’s sleep and how to achieve it. This year’s theme is ‘workplace sleep’ with the charity’s #SleepForSafety campaign to help businesses avoid accidents in the workplace caused by lack of sleep.

We know that a good bed is the foundation of a good night’s sleep, yet many people underestimate the important part it plays in getting a good night’s kip. So, this Sleeptember why not take the time to assess your mattress and see if it’s up to scratch?

Do mattresses help you sleep better?

A comfortable, supportive bed will ensure you move less, wake less, aren’t disturbed by your partner as much and are less likely to wake up feeling tired or aching. In fact, research shows that sleeping on an uncomfortable bed could deprive you of up to an hour’s sleep a night.

How often should you buy a new mattress?

Replace your mattress when you no longer find it comfortable or supportive enough to sleep well. If you’re unsure whether your bed is past its best, take our online Bed MOT quiz. It highlights the signs to look out for such as a noisy and squeaky bed, you and your partner roll towards each other unintentionally, or the mattress is sagging or lumpy. Most people tend to buy a new bed when the one they have is completely worn out or are waking with aches and pains – that’s too late! By this point, your sleep will already be suffering.

We know that mattress shopping can often be an overwhelming experience – from the number of different options available to not actually knowing what you need in the first place. Use our handy Bed Buyers’ Guide to help make this process easier.

Is it worth investing in a good mattress?

You should spend as much as you can afford on a new bed – it’s probably one of the most important investments you’ll make, not just for your home but also for your wellbeing! Remember, you’re going to spend around 20,000 hours on your bed during a typical seven-year lifespan so it’s worth taking a little time and effort in the beginning to make sure you make the right choice.

Equally, ensure you look for the NBF-approved mark of approval to be sure you’re buying a safe, clean and honest product from a reputable manufacturer.

Encourage your employer to sign The Sleep Charter

Last year, Bed Advice, and our parent organisation, the National Bed Federation, signed the charity’s Sleep Charter to acknowledge that we take sleep seriously in the workplace and celebrate the difference having well-rested employees makes. Why not encourage your employer to sign the charter? Find out more on the charity’s website.

Sleeptember – there’s never been a better time to invest in your sleep and your bed.

First published 07.09.20, updated and republished 01.09.24