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Upon seeing the title, some of you may have thought, "It's an exaggeration to say that bedding alone accounts for one-third of your life." I can certainly understand the feeling that bedding alone might not make such a big difference.
However, if you can get proper sleep, your daily performance will improve, so it's not entirely wrong.
If you suffer from insomnia, there is a risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases such as depression, so you should review your bedtime habits and achieve a comfortable life to prevent this.
This time, we will explain how important bedding is for sleep.
Reading this article will change your perspective on bedding!
1. Humans spend about 30% of their lives sleeping
Some of you may be surprised to hear, "Do I really spend 30% of my life sleeping?" But the average sleep duration is 7-8 hours, and since a day is 24 hours, that calculates to 30%.*1
Many people who stay up all night working believe that "sleep is a waste of life," but without adequate sleep, daytime performance decreases, and productivity suffers.
Currently, research on sleep is progressing daily, and there are many surprising findings.
Among them, the most noteworthy research is that lack of sleep tends to increase the secretion of hormones that stimulate appetite, leading to obesity and diabetes.
So, the theory that eating at night leads to weight gain was scientifically correct after all.
Few people intentionally want to gain weight. This is even more true for women. Many people feel that gaining weight has many negative aspects socially, so it can be said that it affects not only sleep but also daily life.
1-1. The time spent in bed also accounts for about 30% of one's life.
As mentioned earlier, we spend 8 hours out of 24 sleeping, which inevitably means that the time we spend in bed also accounts for approximately 30% of our lives.
Eight hours is a considerable amount of time, and since we spend that much time in the same place, we want to be particular about our futons.
Furthermore, while sleeping, our posture rarely changes. If the futon is too hard, it can cause pain in the body.
Don't just think of it as "only 30% of your life," but review it for the sake of that 30%.
1-2. Because it's used daily, you should be particular about choosing your futon.
A futon is an essential item for daily sleep. It is no exaggeration to say that the way you choose your futon, which often touches your body, determines whether you can sleep soundly or not.
That's why you should be particular about finding a futon that suits you.
It should have the highest usage frequency among all furniture, so be sure to keep the key points in mind.
Specific points will be discussed later.
In 2017, the WHO finally recognized sleep disorders as an illness, and the sale of sleep aids and the increase in specialized sleep clinics have made it easier to choose bedding.*2
2. Knowing how to choose a futon will help you master about 30% of your life!
Sleep is an important activity for preventing not only daily health conditions but also lifestyle-related diseases.
You will lose out if you don't understand that not sleeping and doing nothing is a waste of time in life.
Choosing the futon you use every day is the key to a comfortable sleep.
Not paying attention to your futon could be considered wasting 30% of your life. To prevent serious illnesses in the future, choose a futon that suits you.
It's a highly cost-effective method where just a few hours of choosing a futon can significantly enrich your time!
3. How should you choose a futon?
Futons generally come in two types: shikibuton (mattress) and kakebuton (duvet).
Each has different selection criteria, so it's important to understand the key points.
If you make the wrong choice, you might not be able to sleep at night, so you need to choose carefully.
Of course, some people can sleep even without being particular about their futon, but there's no harm in being particular, so let's keep the key points in mind and achieve a comfortable sleep.
3-1. Choosing a shikibuton: Breathability and heat retention are important.
If you are looking for a breathable material for a shikibuton, we recommend cotton.
Humans sweat about a cup's worth during sleep, and this is a physiological phenomenon that cannot be stopped.
If this sweat doesn't dry, it can become humid and make it difficult to sleep, and it can also cause mold, so it's necessary to use a breathable material.
Another important factor when choosing a futon is its insulating properties. In cold winters, heat can escape, leading to colds.
Choose a thickness and material that provides as much warmth as possible.
It is ideal to change it according to the season, but if you cannot keep futons of different materials in your room, even just the sheets, choosing breathable and warm sheets will make it comfortable.
3-2. Choosing a comforter: Choose one that provides ample warmth.
Data from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology shows that sleeping in environments below 10℃ affects body temperature regulation.*3
However, the same experiment showed that people could sleep relatively comfortably when it was slightly cold, which indicates that body temperature can be maintained with sufficient comforters.
Indeed, when it's too cold, your hands and feet can get chilly, making it difficult to fall asleep.
If you prioritize warmth, down is highly recommended.
Down gently envelops the body, providing a sense of security and many people find it comfortable to sleep in.
You can choose the weight and size according to your preference to make it easier to sleep. Recently, there are also 3D machines that can measure bedding that suits you, so it might be interesting to try it once.
3-3. Choosing a pillow: Optimize head height.
When you wake up in the morning, if your neck and shoulders are stiff, it's a sign that your pillow isn't right for you.
A pillow that doesn't fit the curve of your cervical spine can put a strain on your neck and shoulder muscles, leading to neck pain and stiffness.
Furthermore, if it's too high, it can cause snoring and contribute to sleep apnea.
Conversely, if it's too low, the curve of your cervical spine will be close to horizontal, putting a strain on your neck muscles, so be careful.
Generally, the unevenness of a pillow is said to be 1-6 cm, and it varies depending on the pillow, so know what height is best before purchasing.
3-4. Choosing a mattress: Firmness and thickness are key.
The back has a gentle S-curve, and the least strain on the body when lying down is when the S-curve of the spine is 2-3 cm wide.
The firmness of the mattress is key to achieving that width when lying down; if it's too soft, your back will sink in, causing back pain.
While a soft mattress may feel comfortable and unproblematic at first, as it sinks, your back and hips can hit the bed frame, gradually causing pain.
Conversely, if it's too firm, your spine can be compressed, potentially causing pain in your back and hips.
3-5. Choosing a bed: Consider size and functionality.
When people sleep, they invariably toss and turn. Therefore, it is a good idea to choose a bed that is one size larger to avoid falling out.
However, depending on the size of the bedroom, if you place a bed of just the right size, the room might feel cramped.
First, start by choosing a bed size that fits your room to avoid making mistakes.
For functionality, ventilation is still important for beds, so we recommend using slatted bases.
Poor ventilation can lead to moisture from night sweats, which can ultimately cause mold. If mold grows, not only is it unsanitary, but it can also cause asthma.
If you have a lot of belongings and are worried about not having enough space, consider choosing a storage bed. You can use your indoor space efficiently!
4. Common points for choosing a futon
The common points in choosing a futon are breathability and warmth, as well as a weight and feel that suits you.
Fabric softeners are sold in the detergent aisle of drugstores, which is proof that people prefer soft textures over stiff ones. Similarly, futons that are fluffy and pleasant to the touch are also popular.
Since futons are items that you use for many years, durability must also be emphasized.
Even inexpensive futons cost a decent amount, and since they're not replaced frequently, if you try to reorder one, it might be discontinued. In that case, you'd have to start over from scratch, which would take time and money.
However, bedding can generally be used for a long time if used correctly, so it is more desirable to pay attention to its care rather than just choosing it.
Summary: Improve your daily life by knowing how to choose a futon.
I hope you now understand what it means to control one-third of your life simply by choosing the right futon.
Let me summarize the article for you.
- For shikibuton, breathable cotton material is recommended.
- For kakebuton, a down comforter with excellent warmth is preferable.
- Choose a pillow that matches the curve of your cervical spine, neither too high nor too low.
- The ideal mattress firmness allows the S-curve of the spine to be about 2-3 cm.
- The bed should be at least wide enough to allow for ample tossing and turning for comfortable sleep.
I mentioned that sleep accounts for 30% of our lives, and this 30% of sleep is the key to preventing serious illnesses.
Some may think, "If I get enough sleep, I won't get lifestyle-related diseases, right?"
However, there is also data suggesting that too much sleep can lead to an earlier death.*4
Considering this, it's clear that the quality of sleep, not just its length, is crucial, and choosing a futon that suits you is important for improving that quality.
Let's start by reevaluating your current futon.
[References]
*1Part 2: The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side—Regarding Individual Differences in Sleep Duration
*280th Time: Sleep Disorders Finally Make Their Debut, With WHO Classification Revision
*3Comprehensive Study on Ensuring Comfortable Sleep in Daily Life
*4Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Techniques for Good Sleep - Conditions for Bedding Necessary for Good Sleep and its Relationship with Sleeping Posture and Tossing and Turning
