The sleep culture thread

[PaulSB]

Good replies there guys, my Garmin is annoying lately. When I get more time off work I’ll naturally exercise more but my Garmin isn’t used to it so says, “woooahh woooo wooooh you’ll strain your self man!”
I started taking magnesium and for a few months I’m certain it actually helped but now seems to have stopped.

Yep, been there, done that and have the T-shirt. It worked very well for three or four months.

 

[wafter]

Vitamin D with getting more sunlight in the summer?

Perhaps; although actually while not clear from my post it was the summer before last to which I was referring. This summer was crap from a sleep perspective but I spent a lot more time outside in the sun, so I don't think that's a contributing factor on this occasion. Some extra vitamin D probably wouldn't hurt though!

 

[MontyVeda]

The sleep tracking on my Garmin watch is poor compared to the Fitbit i had previously.
The Garmin only tracks one sleep per day so ignores my afternoon nap.
The Fitbit, on one occasion, thought i was asleep for four hours when the watch was in my bathrobe pocket.

Neither are perfect. Both get things wrong. Don't rely on them giving you any accurate data.

 

[Drago]

My Garmin recognises if I doze off during the day.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

My Garmin recognises if I doze off during the day.

Does it alert the nurse?

 

[raleighnut]

My Garmin recognises if I doze off during the day.

Does it recognise 3,000 steps if you have a 'J Arthur' beforehand though.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Does it recognise 3,000 steps if you have a 'J Arthur' beforehand though.

It hasn't taken him 3000 'steps' for years

 

[ColinJ]

Buying a better mattress would probably help. I sleep better when on holiday because the guest beds that I sleep on are much more comfortable than mine.

OMG!!!

I was just looking at king size mattresses and people were recommending ones costing £800, £1,000, and even £1,500+!!!

I am reluctant to believe that good king size mattresses are not available for under £500. I am looking for one that is firm, doesn't sag after a year or two, doesn't have springs that stick in one's back, and is not sweat-inducing***.

Since I am a sad singleton, my mattress only has to bear my weight (roughly 80 kg, 12.5 stone), and I sleep in the middle of the mattress so floppy mattress sides are not a big issue.

Can anyone suggest a king size mattress that they have personal experience of that costs less than £500 and is really comfortable?



*** The hospital bed that I slept on for 9 days in 2012 was comfortable except for the fact that (for obvious reasons!) it had some kind of waterproof mattress pad on top which made my back sweat horribly every night!

 

[vickster]

@ColinJ Have a look (ie go and lie on them) at Sleep Story in Furniture Village, won't be under £500 but they always have some sort of sale. The base is actually as important as the mattress especially if like firm!
https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/bedroom/mattresses/sleep-story/

Just don't get a hideous memory foam one

Edit, they do have this for £500 but it could be awful for you (clearly everyone is different and the only way you can tell is to lie on everything in your budget-ish)
https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/pocket-1000-mattress/ZFRSP000000000034608.html

I bought my mattress in FV during Covid (only place open for trial) and not having a specific budget really, laid on everything in the shop including the very spendy Vispring - which I hated and ended up with a comfy mid priced Hypnos after about 2 hours of lying, turning etc!

 

[annedonnelly]

@ColinJ Have a look (ie go and lie on them) at Sleep Story in Furniture Village, won't be under £500 but they always have some sort of sale. The base is actually as important as the mattress especially if like firm!
https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/bedroom/mattresses/sleep-story/

You'll almost certainly have to replace the base as well as the mattress. Especially if it's very old.

Make sure you spend plenty time in the shop testing them. You'll feel a right fool, but you're supposed to lie on them for at least15 minutes. Some places, John Lewis is one, allow a 60 day trial period so you can swap for a different one if you don't like it after giving it a decent go.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

@ColinJ Have a look (ie go and lie on them) at Sleep Story in Furniture Village, won't be under £500 but they always have some sort of sale. The base is actually as important as the mattress especially if like firm!
https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/bedroom/mattresses/sleep-story/

Just don't get a hideous memory foam one

Edit, they do have this for £500 but it could be awful for you (clearly everyone is different and the only way you can tell is to lie on everything in your budget-ish)
https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/pocket-1000-mattress/ZFRSP000000000034608.html

I bought my mattress in FV during Covid (only place open for trial) and not having a specific budget really, laid on everything in the shop including the very spendy Vispring - which I hated and ended up with a comfy mid priced Hypnos after about 2 hours of lying, turning etc!

Hypnos, sleepeezee and Silentnight will get you something good quality, but you will probably have to do some digging around for sale matresses. The best bet is to find an independently owned shop as they tend to stock a range of price points, and be open to a bit of flex on price (or have sale items). I picked up a king size sleepeezee for £600 last year which was 30% off. As above, try them and then go back and try them again as sometimes what appears comfy initially doesn't feel as good second time around.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Can anyone suggest a king size mattress that they have personal experience of that costs less than £500 and is really comfortable?

I went mattress shopping with my friend last year.
She already had purchased a new bed frame.
We went to many places, including John Lewis - she wasn't on a budget.
In the end, the most comfortable to her was found (brand new and wrapped) in a charity shop, the Heart Foundation.
I think it was around £250 for a double, she was very pleased with it, still is now, many months of use later.

 

[ColinJ]

I potentially have a free alternative!

I have twin guest beds in the attic bedroom. I have never tried sleeping on either of them but I just went up and lay down on one - it felt quite comfortable! I will try sleeping up there tonight and see how I feel in the morning. If that seems promising I will do it for another week and if the bed passes that test I will move the big bed up there and the small bed down to my room.

Apart from saving me money, changing the beds around would give me a lot more floor space in my room. The attic room is very large so having the big bed up there wouldn't be a problem.

 

[alicat]

^^^ if you like the mattress in the attic, could you buy the same mattress for your existing bed base?

 

[ColinJ]

^^^ if you like the mattress in the attic, could you buy the same mattress for your existing bed base?

I probably could but I can just use the smaller one so there doesn't seem much point.