To all the beds I’ve loved before

Let's be real.

We all have that one mattress that holds a special place in our heart. Whether it’s your old childhood bed (hello twin mattress), the first mattress you bought after college, or simply an old mattress that you’ve been sleeping on forever–there’s just something special about falling asleep where it feels most familiar.

But what if your favorite mattress is actually causing you to have less restful sleep?

We know. It’s a hard truth that no one wants to hear, but it has to be said. Even though you want your favorite mattress to last forever, the reality is that it sadly will not. Below are some telltale signs that it might be time for you to part ways with your beloved mattress.

You are waking up feeling unrested.

It is important to continually check in with yourself throughout the day and listen to your body. There are many factors that affect how we sleep at night, so this tip is a little more intuitive. One unrestful night or even an unrestful week may not be due to the quality of your mattress. But if you are constantly waking up tired and fatigued and have tried to cut out things that could be negatively affecting your sleep and nothing is helping, your old mattress could be the culprit.

You wake up with aches and pains.

Are you waking up with unwarranted back aches and pains more mornings than not? This means that your mattress has lost its ability to provide your back with the proper support it needs to maintain alignment. In spring mattresses, this is especially common because as the top comfort layers wear down over time, your body will sink into the mattress, leaving you resting on the springs. (Ouch!) Constant morning back, neck, and shoulder pain is a telltale sign that either your mattress is old and worn down or that it is not the right firmness for your body–either way, it is time for a new bed!

Your bed feels like a hammock.

Don’t get us wrong, there is almost nothing better than taking a nap on a beach in a hammock. But when your bed starts to sag in like a hammock when you get in it to go to sleep, it can actually cause some serious pain and restlessness (especially if you’re a side or tummy sleeper). If your bed is beginning to sag like this, it is time for a new mattress, ASAP. This means that the top, supportive layer of your mattress has softened and has worn out and it's only a matter of time before shoulder, neck, and back pain sets in!

Your mattress is 10+ years old.

We all know that age is just a number, but when it comes to your mattress, it is crucial that you pay attention to when your mattress was purchased. Numerous consumer reports recommend that people buy a new mattress every 7-10 years. Even if your mattress is not causing you significant pain or discomfort, it is still a good rule of thumb to replace your mattress every 8 years or so.

You're sneezing more than you're snoozing.

Are you finding yourself sneezing or more congested in the mornings? Over time, beds begin to attract all kinds of household allergens. Unless you’ve purchased a great mattress protector, chances are your mattress is beginning to attract more and more allergens by the day. Unfortunately, the only way to truly get rid of all of these allergens is by replacing your mattress regularly.

At the end of the day, all you want to do is get in your pj’s and crawl into your favorite mattress that holds that special place in your heart. But it is important to stay in tune with your body, take good care of your mattress, and accept the fact that all good things must come to an end. There will come a time in every mattress-owner relationship where you have to cut it off and say “it’s not me, it’s you” and move on to the next. Because that’s how breakups go, right?