If you’re waking up every morning with a sore back, dragging yourself out of bed and then struggling to get through the rest of the day, it might be time to replace your mattress. Your mattress can have a big impact on how well you sleep at night—and how alert you are during the day. If yours is getting worn down or old, it may not be providing the support or comfort that it used to. You could also find yourself waking up with aches and pains in places where your body doesn’t usually hurt (like between your shoulder blades).
1. Waking up with body aches and pains
If you find yourself waking up with body aches and pains, it might be time to consider a new mattress. Your old mattress may be the culprit if:
- You’re waking up with back pain. If your mattress is sagging or too soft, it can cause pressure on your spine and lead to back pain. A firm mattress that distributes weight evenly could also result in back problems.
- You’re waking up with neck pain. A hard or firm mattress pushes against your neck when you sleep on it, which puts stress on the muscles there and causes soreness when you wake up in the morning.
- You’re waking up with shoulder pain. If your old bed has become too soft (or maybe gotten older), then sleeping on this surface will put extra pressure on the shoulder area when resting or sleeping upright during sleep cycles throughout the night
2. Trouble falling asleep
- You’re falling asleep, but then you wake up a few minutes later and can’t fall back asleep. This is called sleep maintenance insomnia. It’s when you have trouble staying asleep—your brain wakes up before your body does, so it’s hard to get back into a good rhythm.
- You toss and turn at night because you can’t find a comfortable position on your mattress. An older mattress may be causing pain in certain places of your body as well as making it difficult to find the best alignment for sleeping comfortably. If this sounds like something that could be happening to you, then there are both short-term solutions (like using pillows) and long-term ones (like getting a new mattress).
3. Sleep interruptions
- If you wake up in the middle of the night, it could be because your mattress is too soft or too hard for you.
- If you’re waking up with aches and pains, or if you’ve awoken with a herniated disc before, that’s another sign that something is wrong with your mattress.
If any of these things are happening to you regularly—or more than once a month—then it’s probably time to get a new one.
4. Depressed or fatigued
- A good mattress is a place to sleep.
- Good sleep is important for your health.
- Depression and fatigue are signs of poor sleep.
So if you are depressed or fatigued, it might just be that your mattress is old and uncomfortable. You should replace it with a new one!
5. Your mattress is saggy
If you’re unsure if your mattress is time for a replacement, there are several signs to look out for. The National Sleep Foundation recommends replacing your mattress every six to seven years, but if your current bed has any of the following characteristics, it may be time to consider purchasing a new one:
- Is sagging more than 3 inches: If your mattress is sagging more than three inches when you lie on it, it’s probably time for an upgrade. A thick pillow-top mattress might feel soft and luxurious at first but will likely compress over time—in fact, even if you think yours is still in good condition based on its appearance alone (which can often be hard to judge), rolling over onto the surface could tell you all you need to know about whether or not it still provides adequate support.
- Is sagging more than 5 inches: Mattresses can sag much further than this before being dangerous; however, if after rolling onto your side or back with equal pressure from each hip and shoulder respectively there’s now 6 inches between them instead of four (or less), then this might indicate that the foam inside has lost its density and firmness over time so much so that it no longer supports weight evenly across its surface area.”
6. Your mattress is too hot to sleep comfortably on
If you cannot sleep comfortably on your mattress, it’s time to replace it. A good rule of thumb is that if you are waking up hot in the middle of the night and find yourself sweating, then your mattress is too warm. This can be due to a number of factors including poor ventilation and heat retention within the mattress itself. When shopping for new mattresses, look for one that has breathable fabric covers so it doesn’t trap body heat all night long.
If you have some of these warning signs, it might be time to replace your mattress:
- You wake up with body aches and pains. If you’re waking up every morning feeling sore or stiff as if you’ve been in an accident, that could be a sign that your mattress is wearing out.
- It’s difficult to fall asleep. If you find yourself lying awake at night staring at the ceiling for longer than usual, it’s probably time for a new mattress! A worn out mattress can make it more difficult for your body to relax at night which can lead to insomnia.
Conclusion
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be time to consider replacing your mattress. You probably don’t want to start shopping for a new one just yet, but it’s always good to know what options are out there when it’s time for an upgrade.
