The clocks spring forward this weekend, marking the start of British Summertime. While this brings many positives like better weather and longer daylight hours, there’s also a downside – we lose an hour of precious sleep. Some may wonder if one hour really makes a difference, but it does. It can be surprisingly challenging, and waking up on Monday morning might be even harder than usual.

With Summertime daylight saving, when we move our clocks forward, it disrupts our circadian rhythm, throwing our internal body clocks out of sync with our normal day/night cycle. How well we adapt to this change depends on various factors. Here are some frequently asked questions about adjusting to the clocks going forward:

How long does it take to adjust to losing an hour’s sleep?

Typically, within a day, most people should feel fine as our bodies are generally good at adjusting to one-hour changes. However, some may feel an impact, especially if they already don’t get enough sleep.

If I sleep less, will I feel worse the following morning?

If you have a healthy sleep pattern and go to bed slightly earlier the night before the clock change, you’ll likely still wake up feeling refreshed. However, if you’re already not getting enough sleep, you might experience irritability, moodiness, lack of concentration, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness.

What can I do to prepare for the clock change or reset my body clock?

Gradually move your bedtime earlier by about 10 minutes each day leading up to the clocks going forward. This will make the hour loss on Sunday feel less severe. Additionally, expose yourself to natural or artificial light the following morning to help suppress melatonin levels and reduce sleepiness. Instead of napping, go outside in the afternoon to get fresh air as it helps reset your biological clock.

To enhance your chances of falling asleep and staying asleep, practice good sleep hygiene.

1. Limit alcohol and caffeine intake
2. Engage in exercise (but avoid doing it too close to bedtime),
3. Disconnect from gadgets at least an hour before bed and establish a calming wind-down routine.
4. Create an ideal sleeping environment, ensuring that it’s cool, quiet, dark, and free of clutter.
5. Don’t forget the importance of a comfortable mattress, a supportive pillow, and appropriate bedding.

At BodyMould our memory foam mattresses and toppers can make a big difference to how well you sleep at night. Our high-density memory foam moulds to your body as you sleep, cradling you in every position and providing personalised comfort and support. We offer memory foam mattress and topper options to suit everybody, so come and browse our range to find the best size and style for you.

If you need advice or help our team of mattress experts can help you transform your sleep with the perfect memory foam mattress or topper by guiding you to the right mattress or topper especially for you. We make everything ourselves so there’s nothing we don’t know about sleeping comfort, pressure relief and the right support so do get in touch. Contact us online or call us on 01293 871744 and our friendly team will be happy to help.

Photo by Mpho Mojapelo on Unsplash

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Sleep Myths: Fact or Fiction?

Sleep is a fascinating and complex. It’s strange how we all fall asleep for hours every night, sometimes easily and sometimes with difficulty. Dreams may be remembered or forgotten. But these aren’t the only peculiarities of sleep. Misinformation about sleep is common and, if believed, can create poor sleep habits. So here are some common sleep myths and whether they are fact or fiction.

8 Hours of sleep is best

Is 8 hours of sleep a night really necessary for everyone? The truth is, it depends. Just as every body is unique, so are our sleep requirements. It’s important to understand that longer sleep isn’t always better; it’s the quality of sleep that counts. The most common sleep duration for adults is 7-9 hours, allowing enough time for each sleep stage. However, some people may need more or some function well with just 6 hours. Therefore, the belief that 8 hours of sleep is a universal requirement is nothing more than a myth.

Your body adjusts to less sleep

Contrary to popular belief, your body cannot adapt to getting less sleep. Insufficient sleep takes a toll on your body and brain in both the short and long term. After a few nights of poor sleep, you may experience daytime drowsiness. Although this drowsiness may seem to improve over time, it doesn’t mean your body is adapting.

In fact, a single night of poor sleep negatively affects memory, decision-making, focus, and creativity. Continued sleep deprivation can also have serious implications for your physical health, such as diabetes, heart problems, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases. So, even if it feels like you’re adjusting to less sleep, you’re actually more likely to encounter significant health issues because your body isn’t getting the rest it needs.

Napping is bad for you

While some believe that napping is bad for you, the truth is that we all have different sleep needs. For some, a quick nap can help them function better, especially after a restless night. However, it’s important to nap properly by avoiding naps after 2-3pm and keeping them to no longer than 20-30 minutes in length. Napping too late or for too long can disrupt your sleep during the night. If you can’t fall asleep within 10 minutes, it’s best to get up and continue with your day.

Sleep before midnight is worth more

Contrary to the old saying, sleep before midnight is not worth more than sleep after midnight. However, the first sleep cycles usually consist of restorative deep sleep, which is important for feeling refreshed. To ensure a good night’s sleep, create a cool, dark, and quiet bedroom environment. Stick to a consistent sleep schedule, reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption during the evening, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Alcohol before bed is a sleep aid

Although a couple of drinks before bed may make you feel relaxed and sleepy, drinking alcohol before sleep does not improve sleep quality. It can cause deep but disrupted sleep, leading to a poor overall bad night’s sleep. If you want restful sleep and wake up feeling refreshed, it’s best to avoid alcohol before bed.

Swallowing spiders whilst asleep

The myth of swallowing spiders while asleep is entirely untrue. Spiders perceive us as part of their surroundings due to our size, and during sleep, our breathing often produces vibrations that spiders avoid. So, sleep well knowing that this myth has no truth in reality.

Don’t wake someone who is Sleepwalking

Whilst it can be difficult to wake someone who is sleepwalking, it is not dangerous. In certain instances where the safety of the person sleepwalking or the safety of others is at risk, it may be necessary to wake them. They might feel disoriented at this point and may need help returning to their bed.

If a baby sleeps during the day this results in poor sleep at night

Contrary to the myth, a baby sleeping long hours during the day won’t necessarily result in them staying up all night. Babies require ample sleep, often up to 18 hours a day. Balancing their sleep during the day and night ensures they are well rested. Overtired babies may struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, which makes it important to establish a good sleep routine.

Sleep Patterns were in two segments

It may sound unusual, but it’s true that humans used to have two sleep segments. Throughout history, people commonly had a first sleep and then a second sleep, with an hour or so of wakefulness in between. This time was often used for activities like prayer or writing. However, this custom started to wane in the late 17th century and became practically obsolete by 1920. 

The Russian Sleep Experiment: Fact or Fiction

The horrifying story of the Russian Sleep Experiment, which circulated online in 2010, is nothing more than a work of fiction. It describes a sleep experiment in the late 1940s where prisoners were subjected to a gas-based stimulant whilst locked in a sealed chamber, resulting in horrifying consequences. However, this story is entirely fictional and not based on any real events or experiments.

So if you need help getting a good night’s rest then it may be your mattress that is at fault. BodyMould memory foam mattresses and toppers are the ideal solution for a great night’s sleep. Contact one of the BodyMould team today for help and advice.

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