The Case For Better Bedding

Can You Improve Sleep Through Your Sense of Touch?

Good sleep is not a luxury you can live without. You need every single hour you can get and then some. You need it to be the kind of deep, high-quality sleep that rejuvenates you from head to toe, in body and spirit.

So when you turn out the light and crawl under the covers, you want everything around you to promote relaxation and comfort. You want to find yourself surrounded by super-soft textures and a feeling of luxury that simply takes you over, setting you free from your cares, banishing stress, and allowing you to drift away into a long, sound sleep.

More and more, people are beginning to realize just how crucial good sleep is to their health and well-being. They know that finding exactly the right mattress can really make a difference. But what about what goes on top of the mattress: sheets, blankets, throws, comforters, pillows? Can your bedding have an effect on your sleep too?

Touchy-Feely

It’s a little easy to take something like bedding for granted. But when you think about it, how many things do you own that are experienced in such an intimate, direct way? Think of how it feels when you snuggle deep into the covers on a cold winter night, rolling over and burying your face in your pillow, feeling the warm heft of a comforter over your legs. Think of the feeling on a late-summer evening of cool, silky sheets against your bare feet as you slide down into bed, stretching out your body, and just letting yourself sink into soft, intoxicating sleep. There’s something profoundly sensuous at work here.

Scientists tell us that of the five senses, touch is the most primal. Our thoughts and memories may be composed of images and sounds, but the sense of touch goes right to our core. There’s a reason why the word “feelings” is synonymous with “emotions.” Our sense of touch orients us to our environment and shapes our sense of reality. We see with our eyes and hear with our ears, but we feel with our entire bodies, inside and out. We can turn out the lights, close our eyes and shut out noise, but our nerve endings never go off duty.

The latest scientific research gives us an even deeper understanding of the way our sense of touch influences our perceptions and decision making. A recent study demonstrated that the way you judge a situation or a person can actually be affected by such things as whether you’re sitting in a hard or soft chair, handling an object that’s either smooth or rough, or holding a beverage that’s either warm or ice-cold. We truly are creatures of touch!

The Pursuit of Comfort

The way your sense of touch effects your sleep can be just as subtle and deep-reaching. Good, sound sleep comes easiest when you go to bed in a relaxed frame of mind. And an overall sense of comfort is key to reaching this relaxed state. When you’re in a comfortable bed surrounded by soft, luxurious sheets that pamper and sooth your body, it’s like the nerve endings in your skin are sending signals to the brain saying, in effect: All is well. You are safe and secure. It’s okay to let go and drift off to sleep.

The comfort of your bedding has a profound effect on how well you sleep. So think carefully about what goes on top of your bed. Choose good quality pillows, sheets, and comforters that appeal to your sense of touch. And don’t be afraid to go for better materials even if it costs a little more. Good sleep is an investment worth making.

Consider it an essential luxury.