Many restless sleepers visit Orange County mattress stores such as Mattress Sale Liquidators to get a bed that will help them sleep soundly through the night. Tossing and turning is no fun, especially for your partner that is sleeping next to you. Even if you’re not aware that you’re moving during the night, you might notice it in the morning when you’re drowsy or achy from the night before. You might even wake yourself up from your constant movement. So, why do people toss and turn? There are a variety of reasons. Experts at mattress stores explain the phenomenon.
Why am I tossing and turning at night and what can I do about it?
Typically, a restless sleep reflects something going on in a person’s brain. You might be distracted because of circumstances in your life or you may have made some choices throughout your day that have caused you to be a little more energized at night. Here are some of the most common reasons:
Alcohol or Caffeine
Regardless of your tolerance, alcohol and caffeine can have some noticeable impacts on your sleep schedule if you drink them excessively. For those who are more sensitive, a small amount might keep them from falling asleep or cause them to wake up periodically through the night. Both alcohol and caffeine can act as stimulants and will thus hinder your brain from winding down when it needs to for sleep. Alcohol and caffeine can reduce your time spent in REM sleep and thus affect your ability to have deep, restorative sleep. If you want to avoid these negative effects, then limit your caffeine and alcohol consumption and give yourself at least a 4-hour gap between drinking them and going to sleep.
Anxiety or Stress
It’s a known fact that stress or anxiety can have negative effects on your sleep and many people experience this struggle. The feelings you have during the day don’t disappear at night and, in fact, can manifest in bad dreams or restless energy. Some people even have short-term insomnia from stress and anxiety. Experts recommend meditating before bed or getting a weighted blanket to help ease negative feelings and get some sleep.
Strenuous Exercise
While exercise is good for promoting sleep, too much exercise can have the opposite effect. When your body works out, it gets your heart racing and increases your core body temperature, which can overstimulate your body. After doing a hard workout, it may take your body and mind some time to calm down. Sleep experts at Orange County mattress stores say that you should avoid strenuous exercise before bed and instead do some light stretching.
Stiffness
If you have an uncomfortable bed or an uncomfortable sleeping position, then your body will naturally want to toss and turn. This isn’t a bad thing, especially if you want to avoid being achy in the morning. However, it can be unhealthy if tossing and turning are keeping you or your partner from getting good sleep. Make sure that you get a new mattress, a comfy pillow, and be aware of your sleeping position so that you can minimize your movement during the night.