Sleep is considered the most important method for regenerating the body and mind. Too little sleep or poor sleep hygiene have negative influences on the ability to learn and concentrate. Physically this is reflected in reduced reaction times, mentally in a lack of creativity and reduced concentration. Various studies have shown that children with reduced sleep perform poorly at school and develop hyperactive behavior. The influence the right mattress has on cognitive performance and what sleep causes in the brain is explained in more detail below.
The mattress and its influence on sleep
A high-quality and suitable mattress is the basis for sleep quality. Ergonomics is crucial. If the mattress optimally relieves the spine, pain, tension and the resulting interruptions in sleep can be avoided.
It has been proven that deep sleep is more restful and promotes the regeneration of body and mind. Optimal sleep hygiene and comfort contribute to deeper sleep.
An optimally selected mattress not only contributes to greater comfort and relief, but is also important in other areas:
- Fewer pressure points and therefore improved blood circulation.
- Hypoallergenic mattresses prevent allergy symptoms while sleeping.
- High-quality materials regulate body temperature and prevent annoying sweating.
One Study shows what influence the right mattress has on sleeping behavior and can have the comfort of a night’s sleep.
The importance of sleep for regeneration
Fatigue is a signal from the body that it needs rest. If the person is tired, the brain begins to release melatonin and switch body functions to sleep. The body temperature drops, pulse and breathing slow, and blood pressure regulates.
When a person becomes tired depends on various factors. A high burden of metabolic waste, physical exhaustion, but also a lack of exercise promote fatigue. After an average of ten to 30 minutes, the transition to the sleep phase occurs, which is divided into different areas. Although the subjective feeling of unconsciousness arises, various processes take place in the brain.
With a healthy sleep process, sleepers initially slide into the deep sleep phase. This makes sense because the body releases growth hormones at this time. These are necessary to maintain the regenerative processes. Poor sleep, which is caused, among other things, by an unsuitable mattress, prevents this process. The growth hormones activate the immune system, but also fight against bacteria and viruses. This process is responsible for the motto: “Sleep healthily” for various illnesses.
The body finds mental relaxation in the REM sleep phase. In this phase, the person dreams, their eyes clearly move back and forth under the eyelids. In the dream, various body processes are highly active, blood pressure and pulse fluctuate, and physical restlessness can be observed.
The brain is in the highest regeneration phase and processes events that have been experienced in private and professional life. To put it simply, the brain empties its storage of worries and organizes memories, thoughts and images into different drawers. Bizarre and unreal dreams indicate that the brain is in need of stimulation.
Repairing the brain during sleep
Researchers around the world are studying the effects of sleep on the ability to concentrate. In a study researchers found out, that the synapses are hardly active during sleep. During this process, the brain seems to balance itself and create an ideal relationship between forgetting and remembering.
By deleting unnecessary information, the brain has new capacity to learn the next day. Poor quality sleep thwarts this process. On the one hand, this leads to stronger memories, but also to a lack of receptivity the next day.
Research with mice showed that the brain breaks down toxins and cleanses itself at night. The distance between cells in the brain increases and harmful proteins are transported away. There are initial thoughts that degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s can be prevented in this way.
The next day after sleeping you can see how good the quality was. Lack of sleep is not the only thing that affects the ability to learn and concentrate. There is a risk of microsleep because the brain urgently needs rest. A major danger for drivers as it can lead to unintentional accidents and incidents.
Biorhythm correlates with the ability to concentrate
Your own health depends on various factors. Genetics play an important role, but so does lifestyle. Good sleep has protective properties on the body and mind, including:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- depressions
- Disturbances in sugar metabolism
- susceptibility to infection
When people sleep depends on their biorhythm. The exact sleep requirement can also be predicted individually and not across the board. Some people need a lot of sleep and only feel fit after nine to ten hours. Others, on the other hand, are completely recovered after six hours and are able to face the day again.
The internal clock is influenced by genetics. It also determines whether a person is an early riser or a late riser and when the best time for sleep is. Since the body is more efficient at certain times of the day, night owls in particular often have difficulties. General recommendations stipulate that mentally demanding tasks should be completed by 6:00 p.m. each day.
The body gives clear guidelines as to when it is productive and when it is not. The optimal level of creativity can be achieved when the body’s needs are taken into account. A night owl will automatically lose performance if they have to get up at 6 a.m. in the morning.
Conclusion: The right mattress influences concentration!
Sleep can be promoted with a good mattress. This results in improved ability to concentrate the next day. But the mattress is just one of many components that can contribute to sleep hygiene.
A quiet and pleasant environment, a mild climate (approx. 18 to 20 degrees), avoiding electronic devices in bed and regular bedtimes are also important support factors.
02/07/2024