Work & Rest, The Delicate Balance

Time was when work was confined to the office desk, and when one returned home to warm family dinners and early-to-bed routines. Today, we live in an age where the office desk extends to the home and sleep is preceded by reading reports, files or work-related emails and messages, instead of a good old book.

Life in this era of high-flying career pursuits and technological invasion fetches money and fame, but takes its toll on health, and often calls for sacrificing on sleep.

A person deprived of adequate sleep faces many health risks. People suffering from sleep insufficiency are likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, depression, hypertension and obesity, as well as cancer. There are risks of increased mortality, and reduced quality of life and productivity.

Studies have shown that reduced alertness, as well as delayed reaction time due to lack of sleep, is one of the major causes of road accidents and industrial disasters. According to statistics, 25 per cent of the UK population suffers from sleep disorder resulting in daytime sleepiness.

Apart from the busy lifestyle that has developed a ‘racy’ mind, there are many factors, such as light, noise, room temperature, snoring partners, etc. that affect sleep. The bed and mattress on which one sleeps also is an important sleep-influencing factor.

While sleeping, the body rests in one position for an extended period of time. This results in reduced flow of blood in that region, causing deprivation of oxygen and numbness. Pain sensors and nerves send signals to the brain, which directs the body to roll over into a more comfortable position. This process can either be aggravated or assisted by the mattress and the pillow.

Image: Luxdeco.com

Ideally, a mattress helps to reduce the pressure on the body and allows for gentle contouring, so that the blood vessels are not too constricted while sleeping. However, the ideal mattress varies among individuals. What is good for one may not necessarily be the best for another person.

A mattress that is too soft can result in body pain, as it does not support the body adequately. A very hard mattress, on the other hand, can cause undesirable amount of pressure on the back, shoulder and neck, which if continued on a long-term basis, often results in ailments like spondylosis. Also, pressure on the back of the head can result in very bad sleep and excruciating pain the next morning. Usually, a midway approach, which is a not too soft or not too hard mattress, seems to provide the right balance between firm support and cushioning.

The choice of the ideal mattress is not always based on the price tag. Before buying a mattress, it is advisable to do a thorough check in the market. Testing the mattresses by actually lying on them for a few minutes may sound embarrassing, but can help eliminate a lot of health troubles later.

At Luxdeco, there is a variety of mattresses to choose from. From king-size and baroque queen beds to low-height beds, there is an assortment of choices, and all at enviable prices. Ultimately a bed cannot solely readdress our work life balance; however it can provide a good night’s sleep, something that is very vital in our lives today.