4 signs your mattress isn't supporting you properly

Source: National Park Service.

Do any of these sound familiar? If they do, you might need a new mattress.

1. You struggle to fall asleep

You've followed your bedtime routine, you're feeling tired and now you're tucked up and ready to sleep. And yet, it's just not happening. No matter how much you toss and turn, you can't drift off. While we all go through this from time to time, if you're regularly lying awake, your mattress probably isn't providing the support you need. Before you replace your mattress, make sure bad sleep hygiene isn't to blame for your disturbed nights. Consider if your diet or wind-down routine might be keeping you up, and work to create a healthier bedtime. If that doesn't help, then it might be time to replace your mattress.

2. You wake up tired

Consistently waking up tired even after you've got your full eight hours can be a sign that your mattress isn't supporting a healthy, refreshing sleep. Are your sheets all twisted and your blankets on the floor? You might have spent the night trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in, only the mattress couldn't provide one.

When this happens, it doesn't matter how many hours you get. You're never going to feel properly rested, because your body isn't enjoying the kind of sleep it really needs. The right mattress should support your body so you can fall into a deep, consistent sleep cycle, and wake up ready for the day.

3. You're aching in the morning

Morning aches and pains can be a sign of aging (for both you and your mattress, sorry), but it's sometimes the result of a bad sleep surface. And even a premium mattress can be a bad sleep surface if it doesn't suit the position you lie in. Back and stomach sleepers should look for firmer mattresses that help keep the hips and spine aligned, while the best mattress firmness for side sleepers tends to be a little softer with ample cushioning at the pressure points (where your body pushes against the mattress). The best position for sleeping is generally considered to be either a stacked side position or an aligned back sleeping position. No matter how you drift off, make sure your mattress suits your sleep style.

4. You struggle to move in bed

A softer sleep surface will mold itself to your body, something we often refer to as a mattress "hug." It's a common feature of the best memory foam mattresses, and this soft cushioning can be preferable for side sleepers. However, sink in too deep, and you might start to feel like you're trapped in a mattress. Soft beds can be supportive, but if your mattress is making it impossible to move, then it might not be providing your spine with a stable base.

Visit http://www.TehachaSleep.com to buy online (financing as well). Visit TehachaSleep Mattress Store and sleep happy at 112 E. Tehachapi Blvd. (right across from the water tower). Contact us at (661) 823-4056. We're open Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.