When you think about healthy habits, you probably think about nutrition and exercise. Sleep, however, is the unsung hero of your health. When you aren’t getting enough high-quality sleep, you raise your risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and numerous other health problems. 

 A good night of sleep is just as much about quality as it is about quantity, though. You could be clocking eight hours every night, but if you spend those eight hours tossing and turning in a shallow sleep, your health will still suffer.

 One of the best ways to improve your sleeping quality is to look at how you sleep. Now is the time to kick these bad habits out of bed.

1.     Using Low-Quality Bedding

 

High-quality bedding can seem expensive until you realize that it’s an investment in your health. If your bedding is low-quality, it’s more likely to irritate your skin and cause ongoing discomfort. That discomfort is sure to affect your ability to get into a deep, restorative sleep.

 Think about all the health problems you’re more likely to have if you don’t sleep well. Investing in quality bedding could pay for itself before you know it.

2.     Keeping Your Sheets Too Long

 We all know we need to wash our sheets on a regular basis. There’s only so much your washing machine can do, though. Over time, leftover particles will add up and create smells that no amount of cleaning will remove.

 As you wash your sheets over and over, the fabric tends to become rougher, too. Between worn-out fabric and stealthy smells, aging sheets can put a serious damper on your ability to sleep well. You should replace them every two to three years, or earlier if you see signs of wear.

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3.     Lying on a Non-Silk Pillowcase

There’s a reason why skin care professionals and hair care specialists alike recommend a silk pillowcase. As it turns out, many sleep professionals recommend it, too.

Silk pillowcases create less friction on your skin than polyester and other types of fabric. As a result, the pillow doesn’t tug on your hair or skin while you sleep. Cutting out that source of possible discomfort helps you get a better night’s sleep.

As an added bonus, the lack of friction will also reduce your risk for skin wrinkles and hair breakage. Not only will you be more rested, but you’ll keep your aging to a minimum, too.

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4.     Not Cleaning Your Pillow

We all know we’re supposed to wash our pillowcases on a regular basis. What about your pillow, though? Did you know you’re supposed to wash that, too?

Sweat, dead skin cells, oils, and other unpleasant particles will seep into your pillow through your pillowcase. If you don’t clean the pillow to get rid of those particles, your pillow will develop a smell no matter how well you wash the pillowcase. Unsurprisingly, it isn’t easy to get a restful night of sleep when you’re breathing in a nasty odor.

Be careful with the way you wash the pillow, though, because each material needs to be cleaned in a different way. Read the care instructions on your pillow and follow them to the letter.

In fact, this is something to consider when you buy your pillow. For instance, our down alternative pillow is easier to clean than other options like foam pillows.

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5.     Skipping the Mattress Protector

A mattress protector is an absolute must for everyone. If you think you can skip the protector because you don’t eat or drink in bed, think again.

We’re humans. We sweat. And let’s admit it, sometimes we drool. If you don’t have a mattress protector, those fluids will make their way into your mattress.

This causes a smell over time, especially when combined with the dead skin cells that accumulate over several years. The worst problem, though, is mold.

When moisture gets into your mattress, it has no way to get out so it stays there and festers. This can create mold which irritates and inflames your airways when you sleep. That’s no recipe for a healthy night of deep sleep.

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6.     Using an Old Pillow

We talked about washing your pillow, and as important as that is, your washing machine or handwashing technique isn’t perfect. There will still be particles left behind, and those particles add up over time. On top of this, the material in your pillow breaks down and eventually doesn’t provide the support it should.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends replacing your pillow every one to two years. If there’s a pillow you love, by all means, buy the same one every time. You don’t need to keep trying to make the same pillow last while your sleep suffers.

7.     Hopping into Bed Dirty

We all have our routines and preferences, and that includes a preference for when we shower. If you prefer morning showers, though, you could be creating problems you don’t realize.

Every piece of your bedding accumulates dead skin cells, natural oils, sweat, and other things your body sheds. If you get into bed after a long day without a shower, you’re adding more dirt and particles to the mix.

To keep your bedding as fresh as possible, get clean before you jump between the sheets. If you prefer to shower in the morning, give yourself a quick scrub with a washcloth before bed instead. This keeps your bedding fresher between washes so you’re more likely to get a healthy night of sleep.

Creating Habits for a Good Night of Sleep

A good night of sleep doesn’t just help you feel more rested. It makes a long-term difference in your health and potentially gives you a longer life. If you want to reap the rewards, it all starts with the right sleep habits.

Shed the dirty bed habits above and start maintaining a bed designed to give you healthy sleep every night. To get started right now, shop for bedding and pillows in our online store.

 

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