Category Archives: National Bed Month

National Bed Month

National Bed Month

As Spring approaches The Sleep Council, through its Bed Month campaign, reminds us that it might be time to be thinking about giving grotty old mattresses their marching orders – and invest in a better night’s sleep with a comfortable new bed.

Considering we spend a third of our life in bed, getting a good night’s sleep is essential to our health, well-being and productivity. Sleeping on the the right mattress ensures that we wake up refreshed.

The average lifespan of a mattress is around 7 years so it’s worth spending as much as you can afford to get a good quality, comfortable bed.

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Sleeptember Slumbers

As Sleeptember draws to a close we reflect on some of the key sleep facts The Sleep Council has shared with us during this month long campaign dedicated to helping people get a healthy night’s sleep.

Key Sleep Facts

  1. Sleep is essential for health and wellbeing. Without it we’re moody, irritable, prone to infections and we don’t look or feel good!
  2. For the average person who needs 8hrs sleep, losing even 1hr can lower IQ by 1 point the next day.
  3. Performance in sport or creativity can be improved by as much as 20% after a good night’s sleep.
  4. The average Briton goes to bed at 11.15pm & gets just 6 hours 35 minutes sleep per night.
  5. Lack of sleep can make you fat! It fuels junk food habit by changing our brain function to stop us making smart choices about food!

Is your bed fit to sleep on? 

We spend one third of our lives sleeping yet we don’t pay enough attention to what we do it on!  Many people don’t realise that it could be their bed that is preventing them from getting a good night’s sleep.

Changes in our lifestyle and the quality, care and amount of use our beds get impact on whether we need to think about buying a new bed.   Factors such as getting married, moving to a new home, losing or gaining weight and our age can affect the level of comfort and support our bed provides. How we use our beds and the length of time we spend in them e.g. reading, watching television or the occasional use of a spare bed can be the deciding factors in choosing a new bed.

Sleeping in a bed that no longer provides the proper support or comfort can affect the quality of our sleep. Four out of five adults (80%) will experience back pain at some stage in their life and a recent American study found that 63% of back sufferers felt an improvement after sleeping on a new bed.

A new bed is important for a good night’s sleep! With the Sleep Council recommending that we change our beds every seven years, it’s worth making time to take the Bed MOT (Mattress Obsolescence Test) to see if your bed fits the bill.

 

What to do next

With over 500 beds in stock including leading brands Kaymed, Dorlux, Respa, Myers, Staples, King Koil and Slumber Night our staff are also on hand to provide expert advice on choosing a new bed. You can buy with complete confidence at Dalzell’s and what’s more, we provide a Free Delivery service and Free Collection and Recycling of Your Old Bed throughout Northern Ireland and Counties Louth, Monaghan and Dublin, with highly competitive rates across the rest of Ireland. Located in Markethill, just off the A28 between Armagh and Newry, we are just a short drive from Belfast and easily accessible to Dublin from the M1.  No time to visit, no problem! You can place your order and gain expert advice from our experienced team over the phone on 028 3755 1260 or even by Email.

 

Exercise Your Way to Better Sleep

Can exercise improve sleep?

We all know that a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise is good for us, but did you know that our sleep patterns are affected by the amount of physical activity we engage in?

Whilst seven to eight hours sleep may be typical, not everyone needs nor indeed sleeps for this number of hours – some need more, and others less. Sleep patterns also vary with age, with older people quite often needing less sleep than younger adults.

Adding regular moderate exercise to a daily routine for 16 weeks showed middle-aged to older people could fall asleep about 15 minutes earlier and sleep roughly 45 minutes longer. (Stanford University, February 2011)

Conversely, exercising in the morning is an excellent way to get the body awake. Whether it’s going for a run or doing some other form of exercise, this stimulates the body, which perks us up.

What’s the optimum level of exercise to help us sleep?

The latest research by The Sleep Council found that people who exercise five to six times per week are the least likely to take medication to help them sleep (12% compared to a national average of 17%), which suggests this could be the optimal amount of exercise needed to improve sleep.

Said Jessica Alexander: “What’s clear is that one of the best ways to improve sleep is simply to take more exercise. For many of us, that plus a sensible, regular bedtime and a comfortable bed, are key to sleeping well.” 

Top tips to help you sleep

  1. Don’t overdo it. Wearing yourself out physically is not particularly likely to induce sleepiness. In fact it can be counter-productive and lead to wakefulness and alertness when trying to sleep.
  2. Though it’s widely believed that working out too close to bedtime can disturb sleep, there isn’t evidence that backs this argument, so it’s better to exercise in the evening than not at all.
  3. The important thing is to exercise because it makes you feel fitter and better, and if you are experiencing sleeping difficulties, the more you exercise, the more likely you are to improve your sleeping patterns.

What to do next?

At Armagh Beds.com we want to make sure you get a great night’s sleep. As a Sleep Council Retailer our expert staff will be only too happy to advise on what bed and mattress is best for you.  You can place your order and gain expert advice from our experienced team over the phone on 028 3755 1260 or even by Email. Or why not Visit in-store at Dalzells, located in Markethill, just off the A28 between Armagh and Newry and less than 45 minutes drive from Lisburn.  No time to visit, no problem!   With over 500 beds and mattresses in stock and free delivery across Northern Ireland and Counties Louth, Monaghan and Dublin, Armagh Beds.com provides a complete service. We also offer competitive rates for delivery throughout the rest of Ireland, which is free in the case of our Sleeptight and Respa divan beds.

Northern Ireland Loses Out On Sleep

Great British Bedtime Report 

According to a major new report published today (March 1) by The Sleep Council the average person in Northern Ireland has less sleep than the rest of the population in the United Kingdom. The Report found:

  1. 11:28pm – time average person in Northern Ireland Briton goes to bed.
  2. Average person gets 6hrs 19 minutes of sleep per night (Lowest)
  3. 26% have used alcohol as a remedy to help them get to sleep (Highest)
  4. 46% of people say that worry/stress keeps them awake at night.
  5. 31% of people only get between 5-6 hours sleep per night, whilst 14% get under 5 hours of sleep per night.

The findings – being announced at the start of National Bed Month (March) – come from The Sleep Council’s biggest ever research project. Some 5000 people were surveyed in January 2013 to provide an overview of British sleeping habits. The results are published in an in-depth report – The Great British Bedtime Report.

The Impact of Poor Sleep

Although current NHS guidelines indicate that we don’t necessarily need eight hours sleep, experts believe that most adults require somewhere between six and nine hours in order to feel refreshed and to function well both mentally and physically.

Said Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council: “Sleeping well is as crucial to our health and wellbeing as eating a healthy diet or exercising regularly…Just one bad night’s sleep affects our mood, concentration and alertness while long-term sleep deprivation has far more serious consequences: it’s been linked to a number of serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and stroke.”

What Affects Our Sleep?

To ensure you experience good sleep it’s essential to follow good lifestyle habits and to eliminate the factors that are causing you disturbed sleep. Temperature, light, distraction, comfort and the ability to relax are all major factors that affect our sleep and while many of the respondents underestimated the importance of the bedroom environment, the value of a good bed is recognised. More than one in five respondents say they could improve their sleep simply by buying a new bed. And seven out of 10 (72%) follow Sleep Council advice and have had their bed for less than seven years.

The Report also found that people are prepared to invest in a good night’s sleep with the average person spending £583.05 on a new bed, with the divan being the most widely bought type. What’s more, 63% of us prefer to sleep on a divan bed with 31% of respondents opting for a King Size Bed.

What To Do Now

As a Sleep Council Accredited Retailer, Armagh Beds.com has a great selection of divans, mattresses and double beds in-store and online. What’s more we offer a Free Delivery and Recycling Service throughout our Free Delivery Zone – Northern Ireland and Counties Dublin, Louth and Monaghan – with competitive rates across the rest of Ireland. Located in Markethill, just off the A28 between Armagh and Newry, we are just a short drive from Belfast and easily accessible to Dublin from the M1.  No time to visit, no problem! You can place your order and gain expert advice from our experienced team over the phone on 028 3755 1260 or even by Email. Stocking a wide range of leading bed brands that include Kaymed, King Koil, Respa,Dorlux, Odearest, Slumber Night, Sleeptight, Myers and Staples there’s something for everyone at Dalzell’s of Markethill.

Top Tips on Buying a New Bed

Our Top Tips for Choosing A New Bed

Am I due a new bed?

According to research by the Furniture Industry Research Association, 2011 ‘A bed may have deteriorated by as much as 70% from its ‘as new’ state after 10 years. It also showed that beds as little as six years old could offer significantly less support and comfort than a new one, thanks to wear and tear not just from body weight and movement but also sweat and debris such as skin, scales, hair etc.’

With National Bed Month happening in March, maybe it’s time to start thinking about buying a new bed. Consider what type of bed you need.  Your choice of bed will be determined by the layout of your bedroom, the space you have available, your design choices and whether the bed is for two people – ideally a purchase decision made together.

With so many products in the market, it can be a daunting task choosing which bed is right for you. Ultimately providing you with a great night’s sleep, buying a new bed is a long term investment and it’s worth spending as much as you can afford. At Dalzell’s we always recommend that you visit us in-store to try out different beds before ordering online or by phone.

 Tips on buying a bed

  1. Decide upon your priorities and concerns in advance. For example what is your budget? Do you require storage? What size of bed can your bedroom accommodate? Are you fit to turn a mattress? How easy is it for you to get in and out of bed? Have you any health issues such as allergies or respiratory complaints?
  2. When you visit us try a selection of beds for comparison before you buy and set aside enough time to do so properly so you can fully appreciate the differences.
  3. Buy a bed that offers the correct support and comfort for your weight and build – not just firmness.
  4. Wear comfortable clothing, remove any outdoor wear including your shoes and lie on each bed for quite a long time – at least 5 minutes. Lie in your normal sleep position and make some turns, too.
  5. Shop together if the bed’s for two as you both need to feel comfortable.
  6. Remember that a bed is a mattress and a base, don’t consider them in isolation.
  7. Think big! Larger beds are more comfortable and being disturbed by a partner is one of the most common sleep complaints. With a larger bed you are less likely to disturb one another.
  8. Check your bed’s dimensions. Bed sizes are not standardised and even if they have the same name (eg King Size) they may not be the same size. The depth of a new mattress may also be important if you are using a bedstead as your base.
  9. Like everything in life, you get what you pay for in regards of both product and service so spend as much as you can afford
  10. Bespoke sizes, with our excellent relationships with leading manufacturers we can quickly arrange for the manufacture and delivery of a custom sized bed to suit you or your home.

*Please remember, you’re going to spend more than 20,000 hours on your bed during its seven year lifespan, as such it really is worth setting aside a little time and effort in the beginning to make sure you make the right choice.

What to do now

Stocking a wide range of leading bed brands that include Kaymed, King Koil, Respa,Dorlux, Odearest, Slumber Night, Sleeptight, Myers and Staples there’s something for everyone at Dalzell’s of Markethill. What’s more we offer a Free Delivery and Recycling Service across Northern Ireland and Counties Louth, Monaghan and Dublin, with competitive rates across the rest of Ireland. Located in Markethill, just off the A28 between Armagh and Newry. We are just a short 20 minute drive from Lurgan and 55 minutes drive from Lisburn.  No time to visit, no problem! You can place your order and gain expert advice from our experienced team over the phone on 028 3755 1260 or even by Email.