Work pressures. Family responsibilities. Financial commitments. These are all part of everyday life. Sometimes, we don’t always have as much control as we might like. But, as challenging as things may become, there is one vital thing we can actively manage. Our sleep. Our ability to maintain our cool, and cope with whatever the day throws at us, is determined by the quality of the rest we get each night. Here’s why our 2022 sleep health should be the ‘new normal’.

At the end of 2021, an international study was able to reveal the impact of lockdowns on sleep health. For some, sudden changes to daily routines appeared to affect normal sleeping patterns. Increased use of phones, tablets and TVs for social contact, information and entertainment was likely to interfere with normal sleep cycles. This could compromise daytime alertness and concentration. For others, working from home seemed to improve their sleep quality. There was no daily commute and homeschooling for kids meant less pressure on waking times. Both results point to the importance of sleeping for a more productive and rewarding lifestyle.

Take the decision to actively manage your sleep every night. Here are a few tips that can help improve your sleep quality:

• Prepare your mind and body for sleep. Quieten things down before your usual bedtime. Put devices aside, finish off a few household chores and dim the living and bedroom environment.
• Keep to the same bedtime hours as closely as possible. Once your body gets into a pattern of sleep readiness, you are more likely to fall asleep with ease.
• Don’t eat too late. You want your metabolism to slow down enough to let you relax into a proper state of rest.
• Likewise, don’t exercise too late. A state of calmness is what you want approaching your bedtime.
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine and alcohol before bedtime. These can affect the quality of your sleep.
• Lying in over the weekends to catch up on sleep is not the best long-term option. To optimise your waking hours, you need disciplined, regular rest throughout the week.
• Do a sleep audit on your bedroom environment and check the comfort and support of your mattress. A bedroom should be a soothing, calming space. If it's been over 8 years ago since you tested your mattress, do yourself a favour. Pop by your nearest Dial•a•Bed showroom.

Our behaviours and corresponding sleep needs change at different times of life. Newborns and toddlers typically need more intermittent sleep. Adolescents and teens tend to sleep later and may find it harder to get up and go in the morning. Young and middle-aged parents are constantly multi-tasking, with proper sleep being an absolute priority. Our metabolism continues to change in later life, requiring yet further attention to our sleep needs and routines.

The quality of each day is decided the night before. Nothing has made this more obvious than the experience of the last two years. Make 2022 your year of renewed purpose and achievement. Sleep your way to a new, more vibrant you.

Behind every mover and shaker is the perfect mattress. Dial•a•Bed has your back with South Africa’s widest range of bed brands. Whatever your sleep preference, Dial•a•Bed offers precisely the comfort and support you need. When last did you do a mattress test? Let’s get serious about your sleep at www.dialabed.co.za.