Everyone has experienced a bad night’s sleep and knows what it’s like. Yet most people’s experiences are slightly different – some react by being tense, others have headaches or upset tummies, sore backs or sore eyes. However, the universal reaction is that no one feels great when they don’t sleep well.

A good night’s sleep can be elusive for some.

Simply extending the duration of sleep doesn’t always work; it might if you spend the working week not getting enough sleep (this is called Sleep Insufficiency Syndrome) and catch up over the weekend, but then again, it might not.

Getting a good night’s sleep can involve getting everything right. So that extra time in bed works for you.

Is insufficient sleep bad for you? Disturbed sleep can make you feel depressed and out of control which can lead to extra stress in your life. But, although inadequate sleep is stressful and unpleasant, it’s not necessarily harmful. However, it does lead to impaired concentration particularly in monotonous situations.

A healthy lifestyle consisting of adequate and sensible nutrition and sufficient exercise is important to get good sleep. Eating too much, too late and the wrong thing can disturb sleep, as can feeling unwell through a lack of exercise.

Science has extended what the ancient Hindus knew – that there are three states of mind - wakefulness (vaiswara), dreaming sleep (taijasa) and dreamless sleep (prajna).

We now recognise at least five stages of sleep using electroencephalography (EEG or brainwaves – the electrical activity of the brain measured using electrodes glued to the skull): Stage 1 (drowsiness), Stage 2 (light sleep), Stages 3 and 4 (deep sleep or shortwave sleep) and Stage 5 REM (dreaming sleep).

Using this technology it has been possible to quantify how different factors disturb sleep. For example when someone wakes up in the morning, feeling that they have slept well through the night, but nonetheless feeling awful, it’s usually possible to see how the EEG has been disturbed.

People suffering from sleep apnoea for example can stop breathing hundreds of times a night, causing many short awakenings, which aren’t registered by the sleeper’s mind.

This causes daytime fatigue and tiredness even though the sleeper wasn’t aware of it.

The same can happen with an uncomfortable bed.

Moving around in bed during the night is quite natural and necessary but when someone tosses and turns because they are getting sore and stiff, then their sleep is likely to be less refreshing than it should be, and consequently, despite the amount of time spent in bed, they still won’t feel good.

The quality of sleep is just as, if not more, important than the duration of sleep.

The foundation of good sleep is the bed. Beds are where we are taught to sleep best; they have to feel comfortable. If you get up in the morning with aches, pains, stiffness or irritations then you need to consider whether your bed is the problem.

Buying the right bed in the first place is one thing.

But all too often people don’t notice the gradual deterioration of their bed until the level of discomfort is quite extreme – and think of how much time you must have spent in a less than perfect bed by the time it reaches that stage.

It’s not just the bed’s deterioration through use that you need to be aware of either.

Our own individual needs and preferences change over time too. Changes in lifestyle or physical conditions also affect our bed requirements.

Your mattress lifespan for offering maximum support and comfort will vary depending on its quality, its frequency of use, the wear and tear it undergoes (a heavier person will wear out a bed more quickly than a lighter one, a couple more quickly than one person), and how well it’s looked after.

As a rough guide however, even a good quality mattress, in normal use, should not be expected to last more than about ten years.

Manufacturers are also beginning to target their products towards specific needs.

So there are healthy beds for active, sporty sorts; beds to help you relax and de-stress; and beds which address specific health problems from allergies to back pain. Some are a combination of all three.

But whatever takes your fancy in terms of style, construction or clever features, don’t forget to follow the Sleep Council’s top ten tips for buying a new bed to ensure you are getting the one right for you.

1. Set aside enough time. You can’t always buy a good mattress in a hurry, or if you’re tired or distracted – they will all feel wonderful.

2. Choose the correct support for your weight and build. A good mattress will gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same position as good standing posture.

3. Comfort is paramount. Whether you like firmer or softer cushioning, if you’ve got the core support, the rest is up to you. A bed doesn’t have to be hard to be good for you.

4. If possible, try a selection of beds for comparison. Spend at least five to ten minutes on each bed on your shortlist.

5. Lie down in your normal sleeping position and test out how easy it is to turn and to get in and out of bed. Wear comfortable clothing and remove any outdoor gear.

6. Shop together if the bed is for two. And consider separate mattresses or different tensions if there’s a big difference in height or weight.

7. Don’t forget a bed is a mattress and a base working together – don’t consider them in isolation.

8. Make sure you have enough room for free, easy movement. Couples should select a bed that’s at least 5ft x 6ft 6in.

9. Shop for the best value – all things considered – not the lowest price.
Remember every £100 you spend represents just 2.7p a night over ten years.

10. Most warranties and guarantees protect against manufacturing defects – not gradual loss of support or comfort.