How Stress Affects Sleep: What You Need to Know

Is stress keeping you up at night? Are you so stressed that you can’t sleep? In honor of Stress Awareness Month, the mattress experts from Texas Mattress Makers are here to discuss how stress affects sleep, and how you might decrease your stress for a better night’s rest.

Although stress is a very natural part of our everyday lives, if left unmanaged, stress can impact your sleep quality immensely, and in turn, impact your health and ability to function. 

Here is everything you need to know about how stress affects sleep, and what you can do to prioritize any moment of zen and relaxation throughout your day. Grab a cup of tea, maybe a warm blanket, and take a second or two to wind down while you read this blog.

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Can stress cause sleep problems?

Absolutely. Stress can have significant effects on your sleep quality and duration of sleep, which can lead to issues in your daily interactions. Sleep is a crucial part of how our minds and body function. If you’re looking to go in-depth on the science behind sleep and its role and overall importance in your day-to-day life, you can read our articles “How Do Stress and Anxiety Affect Sleep?” and “Ways Sleep Affects Your Relationships” for a deeper dive.

Stress and sleep deprivation can oftentimes go hand-in-hand and can create a dangerously exhausting cycle. The American Psychological Association found that adults reported feeling more stressed when the length and quality of their sleep decreased. 

In order to understand how stress affects sleep, let’s break down the science to further analyze the relationship between stress and sleep.

The relationship between stress and sleep

When you are stressed, your body releases a chemical called cortisol, otherwise known as the stress hormone. Cortisol is responsible for temporarily increasing your blood sugar for a boost of energy to get through a stressful situation. In a healthy cycle, cortisol and melatonin (the sleep hormone) work together to help you fall asleep each night and wake up each morning. 

However, if you’re experiencing fits of stress before bed, your cortisol levels will alert your brain that you’re in “danger,” and will keep you awake and alert, sending your body into a fight or flight state. This will lead to sleep disruptions throughout the night, making it difficult to fall and stay asleep for the full rest your body needs. 

Here is what the unhealthy stress and sleep cycle looks like:

If you’re stressed, then you don’t sleep — and if you don’t sleep, you’ll feel more stressed during the day. So, how do you break the cycle? With our sleep and mattress expertise, here is what we at Texas Mattress Makers would recommend.

Ways to decrease stress before bed

If you’re constantly waking up tired, it could be because you’re going to bed in a stressed state. Therefore, you must develop better sleep and stress-relief habits for a healthier, happier life. Here are some tips for relieving stress before bed and ensuring that you can snooze uninterrupted. 

1. Understand the importance of a full (and good) night’s sleep

In order to create better sleep and stress-relieving habits, you need to understand why getting a full 7-9 hours of sleep each night is important. Unfortunately, many adults these days don’t prioritize sleep, and in return, they often feel fatigued or groggy throughout the day and may even develop certain health conditions as a result. 

Stress can also have long-term negative effects on the body including increased risk of heart attack, stroke, obesity, mental health problems, and high blood pressure. The facts are there: sleep leads to a clearer mind and a healthier life, so if you want to perform your best every day, get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. 

2. Prioritize relaxation 

Life can be incredibly stressful which is why it is important to take at least a few moments throughout the day to ensure that you are taken care of. There are many ways to relax before bed that will decrease your stress levels and make you feel calm, happy, and ready for bed including:

• Taking slow, deep breaths
• Taking a warm bath
• Having a nighttime stretching routine
• Listening to a guided meditation 
• Listening to soothing music
• Avoid looking too much at your phone or any screens before bed to unwind 

Relaxation can help to elevate your melatonin levels which will make falling and staying asleep much easier. The more relaxed you are, the better your sleep quality and duration will be.

3. Sleep on the right mattress for your needs

Here is another fact: if you are sleeping on a bad mattress or a mattress that is not suited to your individual needs, you cannot get the quality sleep that you need. Even if you are “too blessed to be stressed,” sleeping on a poor-quality mattress can increase your stress levels from lack of sleep. 

In order to curb both stress and sleep deprivation, you need to invest in a mattress that is high quality, made with innovative materials, and suited to your preferences. You will be able to feel the difference between sleeping on a cheap mattress and sleeping on a mattress that is right for you. Trust us, we’re the experts.

Stress Less and Sleep Better with a Mattress from Texas Mattress Makers

Now that you are more aware of how stress affects sleep, what steps will you take to decrease stress and prioritize sleep in your life? Personally, we believe that finding your perfect mattress match is a great start. 

With the right mattress, you can wake up every morning feeling more refreshed and able to conquer your day regardless of any stressful situations that may be thrown your way. Our experts encourage you to come into any of our showrooms and try out our handcrafted mattresses in person to find the best mattress for your needs. This can guarantee a stress-free shopping experience. 

After all, we provide Houston with the best mattresses for the best prices, so there’s no need to shop anywhere else. You can shop our mattress selection online, call 713-804-7218 to speak with an expert or visit any of our convenient Houston showroom locations today. 

More Helpful Articles by Texas Mattress Makers:

• Is Beauty Sleep Real?
• The Best Mattress for Teenagers
• Pros and Cons of Taking Melatonin for Sleep
• Why You Should Shop From a Sustainable Mattress Company
• 5 Mattress Shopping Mistakes to Avoid