Written by Joy Milkowski
So you know it’s time to buy a new mattress. You have a pretty good idea of what you want in a bed, and you are almost ready to buy. You probably have already done your homework and researched your options. Now it’s time to test-nap!
You wouldn’t buy a car without test-driving it, and you likely try on your clothes to make sure they fit before you take them home. Why wouldn’t you check to make sure the mattress you are looking to purchase meets all your sleep and comfort needs?
Buying a mattress is a significant investment—one that deserves your full research and attention. You will spend 1/3 of your life in your bed, and looks and numbers aren’t everything. A dazzling and disorienting array of numbers, from firmness and thickness to price, can help pry open the wallet of even the most seasoned buyer.
The only way to make sure that you're buying the right mattress for you (and not for the salesperson) is by giving it a test-nap. And not just a casual sit lightly on the edge and maybe press in the middle test, but a thorough, planned-out examination.
Do your research
You can find information on beds and mattresses from reviews in publications like Consumer Reports, or you can get it directly from the manufacturer's website. Learn about all the features and options that come standard with the mattress you have your eye on, and get familiar with more important specs like latex versus viscoelastic (memory) foam and life span. If you know what the mattress can provide for you and what its limitations are, you won't settle for less than the best mattress for you.
Test-nap on your time
It's tempting to stop in and shop on a lunch break or on your way to something else, but it's not a great idea. Take your test-nap when you have plenty of time to get all the information you need.
The goal of a test nap is to experience — as closely as possible — the same type of sleeping conditions you will experience with the mattress in your home. Make sure you curl up in your favorite sleeping position with a pillow, and simply relax. Let your body melt into the mattress, feel your arms and legs relax their tension, and let your eyes close. Drift away into that comfort zone you experience when you lay down for a nap or for the night. Roll over as you might throughout the night and test out a different position. If you read each night before bed, take your favorite book along to your test-nap and read a few chapters.
After you’ve had the opportunity to simulate your sleep environment as you would have it at home, you will be far more prepared to make the decision on which mattress is best for you. Your time investment will pay off in the long run with the increased comfort and sleep you will experience each night.
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