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How to spot lack of sleep symptoms

“How you sleep at night has a very real effect on how you feel during the day – how productive you are at work, how you manage your relationships with others, and how you cope with stress. The first step is to recognise your own sleep deprivation symptoms which could be anything from groggy mornings to dehydration. Here’s how to spot the symptoms of lack of sleep – and what you can do about them.” Dr Ranj, Furniture Village sleep ambassador
Guides Lifestyle
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Do you have lack of sleep symptoms?

It’s 3 am, the lights are out and you’re lying in bed with your eyes closed, desperately trying to get to sleep.

It might have been the glass of wine you had before bed causing you to wake up early, after just a few hours’ rest. It might be the gentle snoring of your partner in bed next to you. It could be anxiety, related to your time of life or life events. Or it could be that your bed is uncomfortable or too hot. But one thing’s for certain, no matter how many sheep you count, you’re absolutely wide awake.

If this situation is familiar, you’re not alone. Over a quarter of Brits feel they sleep poorly most nights, and it’s something which can have a huge effect on your overall health and your day to day life.

Here’s how to decode your sleep deprivation symptoms and find solutions that work.

Sleep deprivation symptom 1: Groggy mornings

After a poor night’s sleep, the next morning is going to be tough. Your first challenge is convincing yourself to get out of bed.

Lack of sleep symptoms from sleep deprivation due to anxiety or a snoring partner is a common problem. But if being unable to find a comfortable sleeping position is what kept you awake, you’ll also have to contend with a sore back and stiff muscles.

Mattresses which don’t provide you with the right sleeping conditions can be damaging to your physical health. To get a good night’s sleep, you need to be comfortable. This means your body must be stable and supported, without too much pressure being put on any one part of your body.

Old mattresses – which can be uneven or lumpy – aren’t great for your sleeping posture, particularly your back. If you’re not receiving proper support your spine could be out of alignment, putting undue strain on your muscles and ligaments.

If you’re regularly waking up with back ache, investing in a firm mattress might solve your problem. In fact, changing your mattress every seven or so years will make sure it stays stable and supportive.

And if your back problems aren’t sleep related, memory foam mattresses can often help provide balanced, pressure-relieving support that eases aches and pains.

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Sleep deprivation symptom 2: Tired-looking eyes

After dragging yourself out of bed, your next step might be peering at your reflection in the dressing table mirror, where your lack of sleep symptoms could be painfully obvious.

Sleeping badly is rarely great for your appearance, so the face looking back at you might not be all you’d dreamt of. Red eyes, dark circles and sallow skin are all short-term consequences of a bad night’s sleep. If your sleeping problems have been going on for some time, you might also be confronted with the appearance of wrinkles which you could have sworn weren’t there before.

Beauty sleep, it turns out, is more than just a myth our mothers told us. Sleep allows the body time to repair, and to regulate proteins like collagen, which keeps skin looking youthful and supple. Changes to the blood vessels and retention of fluid around the eyes because of poor sleep can also give a tired appearance.

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Sleep deprivation symptom 3: Feeling dehydrated

After a bad night’s sleep, you might also wake up feeling dehydrated or thirsty – which can also contribute to those tell-tale tired eyes.

Dehydration may be down to excessive night-time sweating as a result of overheating, or because of too much alcohol which in itself leads to poorer quality sleep.

While your duvet keeps you warm at night, your mattress also has a huge impact on your temperature as you sleep. Mattresses with too much ‘sink’, or that mould to your body like some types of foam mattress, can trap heat. Even if you sleep under just a sheet, you may still be too warm.

The good news is that many mattresses these days are designed to keep you fresh and cool, with moisture wicking covers, new smart materials which regulate temperature or wool rich fillings which are naturally heat regulating.

If you have tendency to overheat, it’s best to opt for a pocket sprung mattress over memory foam, or find a memory foam mattress with built in airflow.

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Sleep deprivation symptom 4: Long-term health impacts

Having yawned your way through the last 12 hours, it’s finally time to head back to bed. Hopefully, on the evenings after a bad night’s sleep, you’ll nod off easily and wake up after a solid slumber ready to face the day. But if sleeping badly is a regular problem, it’s something you need to address, and soon.

Long-term lack of sleep can be a serious matter. The long-term physical and mental effects of sleep deprivation range from low mood and poor memory to heart disease and fertility problems. So, whether it’s your bed, your lifestyle or your environment that’s keeping you up – it’s time for a change. Get your bounce back and start sleeping well. Our range of mattresses might have what you need to get the spring back in your step.

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A good night’s sleep isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s absolutely essential for a productive day. Sleep deprivation can take a huge toll on your wellbeing, so it’s vital that you recognise those lack of sleep symptoms and implement changes to your night time environment and routine that can aid restful and rejuvenation sleep, night after night.

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