Essentials for a Good Night’s Sleep

Proper Mattress and Pillow Essential for Good Sleep

How well did you sleep last night?  

When many people evaluate their priorities on ways to improve their current home, getting a better night’s sleep should rate higher on the list.  All too often two key factors that affect your home, your health, and your quality of life are overlooked – that’s the quality and condition of your current mattress and pillows.  Getting a good night’s sleep depends on several different factors—comfort, stress level, room temperature, diet and a myriad of other things.  But two sure basic building blocks to improve your sleep and your health are improving your pillows and mattress.

One primary improvement people should examine involves their pillows. When was the last time you replaced your pillows?  It is estimated that 23-28% of overall spinal alignment is dependent on the  proper support of your head.  If you are one of the many people that are sleeping on pillows that are over 4 years old, replacing them may be a good start on your home transformation list.  Most sleep specialists recommend updating general pillows every year and specialty pillows such as Tempur-pedic, latex, or gel infused memory foam pillows every 3 or 4 years.  Furthermore, most people haven’t been properly fitted for a pillow depending on your sleeping position and contour of your body.  When looking for the correct pillow that is best for you, start by asking – “What position do I find myself waking up in each morning?”.  Then when going to a reputable mattress store you can inform your mattress specialist if you are a side sleeper, back sleeper or stomach sleeper – this will help them offer you the best options for you.

If you’re in the market for a new mattress and have recently taken a stroll down the aisle of a bedding store, you know that there is a dizzying array from what to choose.  How do you know which mattress is best for you?  To start, says Arya Nick Shamie, MD, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, the mattress needs to support your body in a neutral position, one in which your spine has a nice curvature and your buttocks, heels, shoulders, and head are supported in proper alignment.

According to Tyler Swanson, bedding buyer and sleep specialist at Ernies in Ceresco, “the mattress industry is now offering some of the most exciting technological improvements in mattress and lifestyle adjustable bases ever.  It’s staggering how much technology has changed in 3 years.  However even with all of the breakthroughs in technology, it is still important to discuss with a mattress specialist the things you like, and dislike about your current mattress, as well as other factors that can affect your sleep like such as; health issues, room sleeping temperature, do you sleep with a partner, diet, sleep position, aches and pain, and a host of other information to help you make a more informed purchase.  A purchase that can literally help you live a better life, because of how you feel.”

Consumers can now find vastly improved mattresses at all price points whether your need is a spare bedroom mattress, youth mattress, or replacement for your main bedroom sleep system. 

Finding the mattress that is just right for you and your budget is well worth your due diligence, not only for comfort and support but your very health as well.

New Sleep Technologies

By Tyler Swanson

Ernie’s in Ceresco has a large selection of home theater options in its showroom and warehouse. Located in Eastern Nebraska, Ernie’s in Ceresco is the largest family owned total home furnishings store in the state.