Graduating from high school brings with it a host of new changes. Starting college is one such pivotal change. Most students leave their childhood home for on-campus housing to have easy access to classrooms and campus resources which saves them a considerable amount of time and money spent traveling to and from college. It can be fascinating to have your place to live in as you embark on this new chapter of your life. Binge-watching TV shows and decorating your dorm room with your roommates or having other friends over without having to ask your parents’ permission are some of the upsides to college life.
While moving out of your parents’ house can be an exciting prospect for many students, some often deal with the difficulty of living far away from their families. This makes it all the more important to transform your college dorm room into a second home — another place of safety and comfort.
To feel comfortable and cozy in your dorm room, you must ensure that it is pleasantly decorated and mirrors your interests in a way that makes you feel welcome while also being aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Most importantly, you must ensure that you have a good quality mattress that guarantees a peaceful and undisturbed sleep at night.
Why do students need a good sleep
Sleep is essential for the survival and sustenance of humankind. For students it is all the more important as they require at least 8 hours of sleep every night in order to develop good sleep hygiene. Yet, studies have revealed that students are among the most sleep deprived groups in the general population, owing to the stress and pressure that come with staying up past bedtime to work on assignments and study for exams.
However, contrary to the glorified ‘all-nighter’ culture, getting less sleep is not all that glamorous. Research shows that in addition to the general feeling of drowsiness, sleep deprivation can have serious implications on your health and performance, including:
- Weaker immune response
- Higher chances of obesity and diabetes
- Lethargy
- Cardiac problems
- Greater risk for developing mental health illnesses, including depression and anxiety
- Mood swings
- Lower levels of concentration
- Impaired reaction times and decision-making abilities
Science has told us time and again, about the role of sleep in the effective consolidation of information in the brain. This means that practicing good sleep hygiene can aid in memory retention which directly influences how well you would be able to perform academically. According to research, sleeping well helps you get better grades in exams. Studies have shown that students who sleep well for at least a week before the exam, tend to perform well and obtain high scores. Most importantly, sleeping well at night helps you stay healthy and happy, better preparing you for the day ahead.
The importance of a good mattress
Quite often, setting an appropriate bedtime schedule for yourself is the first step towards achieving the desirable level of sleep hygiene. Although that is important, it is just as essential to select the right kind of mattress to suit your sleep habits. While buying a mattress for college, you must keep the following conditions in mind:
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Type:
The type of mattress that you should use mainly depends on the kind of sleeper that you are. Foam, gel, innerspring, airbed, and latex are some of the most popular mattresses in use currently. If you are a side-sleeper, you can use a memory foam, actigel, or latex mattress. If you sleep primarily on your back, you can purchase a memory foam, traditional spring, pocket spring, or an orthopaedic mattress. As a stomach sleeper, you can consider buying a memory foam, pocket spring, or a hybrid mattress which incorporates the properties of a spring, foam, gel or latex mattresses into a single bed. In Dubai, you can easily buy online whichever mattress you want.
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Level of comfort:
Another important aspect to consider while mattress shopping is the degree of comfort it can possibly give you. Some of the factors that make a mattress comfortable are:
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Spinal support
Whether you lie supine or prone in bed at night, it is important that your mattress is able to provide adequate support to your spine after a long day of sitting in class. Not only can a comfortable mattress prevent and resolve backaches, but it can also reduce the number of times you wake up feeling stiff or sore.
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Motion isolation
If you are bound to share your dorm room bed with a pet or roommate, it is likely that you may be woken up in the middle of the night by an errant, restless sleeper. In order to avoid such instances, you must buy a mattress that can cancel out any movement without causing a disruption in sleep.
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Temperature control
Whether you sleep better when it is warmer or cooler, it can be very beneficial to have a mattress that simulates similar temperatures that are conducive to a good night’s rest.
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Feasibility:
Starting college and moving to a new place are not cheap endeavours. In addition to tuition fees, book and food allowances, you also have to make room for other unforeseen, miscellaneous expenses when you commence your degree program. In view of this, buying an expensive mattress may not be the most feasible thing for your budget. However, purchasing a high-quality mattress that guarantees comfort and uninterrupted sleep at night can ultimately prove to be a profitable investment as such mattresses are long-lasting. Additionally, you can also take advantage of ‘back-to-school’ sales to get yourself the right mattress for a more reasonable price.
Final thoughts
College can be a very stressful period in your life as a student. Although it is important to study and perform well academically, while simultaneously maintaining a social life and having fun, it is more important to sleep well to ensure your continued mental and physical wellbeing. Investing in a top-tier mattress can help you be better prepared for college and all the challenges that come with being a student.
