Most of our lives are hectic and full of stress, and bedtime is one of the few times we’re actually relatively still for a few hours. But have you really examined the quality of the sleep you’re getting? If you wake up tired, stiff, or with a sore back and neck in the morning, maybe it’s time to invest in a new mattress.

Many Americans spend the night tossing and turning, waking up with each movement of a partner, or fighting deep depressions in the mattress that develop over time. A good mattress should allow you to turn easily, redistribute your weight, and reduce pressure points to give you a great night’s sleep.

Here are a few signs that you may need a new mattress and boxspring:

• You wake up tired or with stiffness, numbness, aches or pains
• You toss and turn during the night or feel like you’re waking up several times a night.
• You feel like you’re fighting or sinking into deep ruts or depressions in the mattress.
• The mattress creaks or groans when you sit on it.
• You had a better night’s sleep somewhere other than your own bed (such as a hotel)
• Your mattress shows visible signs of overuse (it sags, has lumps, is stained, the interior is exposed, etc.)
• Your mattress is 5-7 years old (How long a mattress will last depends on several factors, such as amount of use and original quality, but in general, a mattress set that has been in use 5-7 years is no longer providing you with the best comfort and support.
• You are not sleeping well in general.

If you decide you’re ready for a new mattress, there are four main concerns to address when looking for a new one: comfort, support, durability and space. The Better Sleep Council offers these suggestions on how to judge each criteria to best suit your needs:

COMFORT. Gone are the days when a mattress had to be hard-as-a-board to be good for you. A too-hard mattress may only succeed in putting your shoulders and hips to sleep. You’ll sleep best when your bed helps you feel cradled in comfort, cozy and secure. Today’s top quality mattress/foundation ensembles are built for superior comfort. Luxurious new cushioning materials and extra-soft surface treatments create a plusher, more comfortable feel.

SUPPORT. Correct support is the essential ingredient for a healthy body. A good mattress and foundation will gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same shape as a person with good standing posture. Pay special attention to your shoulders, hips, and lower back—the heaviest parts. If there’s too little support, you can develop back pain. But if the mattress is too hard for you, you can experience uncomfortable pressure. A word about “firm” — don’t rely on product labels to tell you which mattress will give you the right support. One manufacturer’s “firm” may feel harder than another’s “extra firm.” The only way to find out if the support is right is to lie down and try it for yourself.

DURABILITY. It’s the quality of the materials used and how they’re put together that determine how long a mattress and foundation will provide the comfort and support you bought them for. The best assurance of good performance over a good many years is to buy the highest quality sleep set you can afford.

SPACE. Cramped quarters can turn sleeping into a nightly wrestling match. A healthy sleeper moves anywhere from 40-60 times a night, including some dozen full body turns. You need freedom of motion while you sleep and to help you relax while getting to sleep. If you sleep with a partner, be sure to select queen or king size. Both are not only wider, but several inches longer than the standard “double” (full size), which offers each sleeper only as much space as a baby in a crib.

Following these ideas will help you find a new mattress that will help you get better sleep and recharge you for what the next day may bring.  Be sure to stop by Smith Village, York, PA’s best mattress store.