Changes in temperature, hot and humid air, night sweats, claps of thunder, and bad weather can make us toss and turn for the whole night. Any change in our surroundings can negatively influence our sleep-wake cycle.
While you can’t control weather patterns, you can still do a lot to prepare yourself for a good night’s sleep. For starters, adjust your bedding with a good set of sheets and an ideal pillow.
The skin to sheet contact can give your body a comforting hug and lull it to sleep.
Fabric is the key element
Some among us are hot sleepers, who naturally sweat a lot more during sleep, while others tend to expend heat during the night. We often find ourselves investing in cooling comforters, but we often forget the sheets.
Once you know the type of fabric that suits you, you might want to replace your current sheets.
While cotton tends to trap less of your body heat, sheets derived from eucalyptus fibre come with temperature-regulating properties.
If you don’t want to change your summer sheets during winter, you might want to choose some linens for your bed.
Linen is known to be cosy and hibernation-worthy during winters and breathable during summers. It can last forever if you care for it well.
You might want to stay out of synthetic buys, as they make it hard for your skin to breathe.
Material and thread count matters
Finding the quality bed sheets is nothing short of a miracle, for sometimes you find them too thick, other times, not too good a material.
The first and foremost thing to look for while shopping for bed sheets is the material. You should scan through websites based on your personal preference, and narrow your search down to the sheets which are top-rated for their material.
The second factor to be kept in mind while looking for sheets is the thread count.
Thread count tells the number of threads, both horizontal and vertical, woven per square inch of the fabric. The more the thread counts, the softer the sheet is!
An ideal soft sheet should have as many as 300-400 threads per square inch. If you want your sheets to trap your body heat during chilly months, you might want to go for the sheets with a thread count above 400.
Pillows to go with your sheets
A pillow might appear to you as an ordinary purchase, but it helps a lot in keeping your spine in line while you snooze under your covers.
According to Dr. Neel Anand, professor of orthopaedic surgery and director of spine trauma, “When it comes to choosing good pillows, keep the proper alignment of your neck and back as a priority in your decision-making and you’ll have a much better chance of a good night’s sleep.”
A good pillowcase might be just as important. If you have oily skin, a cotton case can absorb oil and dirt, making you wake up fresh and energetic in the morning.
A silk pillowcase comes with the most pronounced benefits for your hair as it reduces friction, thereby, keeping your locks from entangling and breaking.
Useful tips for a good snooze
As you’ve determined the feel of your sheets and bought yourself a perfect pillow, it’s time to improve your sleep hygiene with the following rituals:
Soothing tunes before sleep
Your favourite tunes can calm your brain and nervous system, bring down anxiety levels after a stressful day. In many cases, music is known to have some effects on the brain as meditation. So, listen to your favourite playlist before shut-eye.
Leaf through the pages of your favourite book
A few beautiful poems or short stories from your favourite writer can help your brain soothe and unwind for a good night’s sleep.
Sniff aromatic scents
You can try a warm shower with your favourite scented oil, or spray scents on your sheets or pillowcase.
You can also try mindful meditation, keeping your electronics away, making your surroundings dark, quiet and clutter-free to benefit your sleep.
Create a comfortable space with luxury bedding that you will love and cherish for years to come. Invest in mattresses, pillows, and sheets to get restorative sleep and boost your sleep hygiene. Materials, fabrics and textures matter and attention to detail will help you sleep better.