How to Figure Out the Firmness of Your Bed

Improper sleep can seriously impact your life or job performance. Aside from personal health or illness, the mattress you are sleeping on could easily be the source of difficulty in getting to sleep. Mattresses come in many varieties and sizes, geared toward different body shapes and preferences. When deciding which mattress works best for you, it can be difficult to determine how soft or firm a particular model is, as the standard scale for firmness established by the European Committee of Standardization is not used in the U.S. Also, some mattresses sink with age. Still, comparison and some procedures can lead you to the right bed for you.

Instructions

1. How to Figure out the Firmness of Your Bed

   • 1

     Remove all foam pads or extra blankets from your bed.

   • 2

     Lie down on your side or in the position you usually sleep in. Lie there for about 10 minutes and note if you change positions frequently.

   • 3

     Stand up and see if your joints or muscles feel any pain or if your spine feels out of alignment. These are signs that your mattress might be too firm or soft, respectively.

   • 4

     Repeat this same process on another bed for comparison, taking into account the different positions of your spine and body.