This adorable #60 Counting Sheep is a special Serta Anniversary Edition measuring 30″ high.  All profits go to City of Hope. All profits go to City of Hope to aid in the continued fight against cancer.  CLICK HERE to learn more and bid on this one of a kind Counting Sheep.

Even though we are a traditionally sleep-deprived nation, the majority of poll respondents report sleeping well at least a few nights during the week.  On average, respondents are sleeping between 6 1/2 – 7 1/2 hours each night.  Plus, the majority of respondents take their bedroom environment seriously, with more than 60% viewing it as essential to a good night’s sleep and more than 90% considering their mattress an important part of the sleep experience.

The poll is filled with some great information, from how respondents make their bedroom purchase decisions to what impacts a “romantic” sleep environment.  All in all, the poll indicates that we are a nation taking our bedroom environment seriously while placing a premium on the quality of sleep.  Check it out by clicking HERE.

Even with these promising poll results, many Americans still report having difficulty sleeping several times each week.  So, what’s the catch? 

We all know that sleep is fundamental to our health and well-being.  After all, parents were preaching this to us as children, and our doctors (and the media) are still preaching this to us today.  We know that a good 8 hours sleep will result in a more productive day at work and a more enjoyable evening at home. Even with our beautiful bedrooms, carefully decorated to provide rest and retreat at the end of a long day, we are still waking up feeling cheated of a good night’s rest and suffering as a result.

It’s pretty clear that having the right attitude towards our bedroom is just the first step towards better sleep.  The next step is developing the right attitude about sleep overall.  Most of us live hour to hour and feel lucky if we are able to accomplish only half of the things on our ‘To Do’ lists every day.  This leaves us very little time to stop, relax and take care of our bodies and minds in the hours before bedtime.  In other words, we are a nation that isn’t very good at “shutting down”!

The effects of poor sleep extend beyond your basic sleepiness.  For instance, the NSF recently reported that sleep deprivation may cause increased calorie consumption, leading to weight gain and fatigue.  This, in turn, impacts the quality of sleep, creating a vicious cycle.

So, in closing, we are grateful to our friends that the NSF for encouraging us to love our bedrooms and create the right environment for sleep.  Whether or not we choose to use our bedrooms for better sleep – well, that’s totally up to us.

Ready to take the first step in creating a better bedroom?  Take our Mattress Selector Quiz HERE to find out which Serta mattress may be best for you!

#60 is a collector's edition Counting Sheep plush toy!

We’ve made it fun and easy to get involved with this wonderful program – and we need your help in getting 1,000 #60 Counting Sheep adopted in April.  First, simply buy your #60 Counting Sheep plush toy online HERE.  All profits from your purchase go to City of Hope.  Next, when your #60 arrives to your home, it will be packaged with a special card carrying a unique registration code and instructions on how to officially “adopt” your #60 online.  At our Online Adoption Center, you can select a unique name for your Counting Sheep and dedicate your adoption to a loved one touched by cancer.  We will place a “virtual” version of your sheep in our Herd for Hope and give you access to exclusive Counting Sheep content, including computer wallpaper customized with your Counting Sheep’s name and date of adoption.  Last, spread the words to your friends and family with our easy Facebook sharing widget from the online adoption center.

CLICK HERE to visit the City of Hope website.

Serta’s Cool Action Gel Memory Foam was introduced in 2011 with the iComfort® Sleep System, offering mattress shoppers an alternative to ordinary memory foam mattresses.  This unique material is made with Serta’s exclusive MicroSupport™ gel, which is infused into premium memory foam for up to seven times more cooling comfort and up to two times more support than ordinary memory foam.  Serta’s new mattresses with iSeries technology combine Cool Action material with the Duet Coil Support System, which is uniquely designed to respond to each sleeper’s body for balanced comfort and deep, postural support.

“Serta’s iSeries technology really offers mattress shoppers the best of both worlds,” said Andrew Gross, Serta’s senior vice president of marketing. “Now, those who have heard all of the buzz around iComfort and want to experience our Cool Action gel memory foam have an option in the innerspring category.  Plus, these new mattresses are designed to work with our Motion Perfect Adjustable Foundation, offering a totally customizable sleep experience with an innerspring mattress.”

Serta’s iSeries technology is now available in new Perfect Day® mattresses and will soon be available in Trump Home™ mattresses across the United States.  Serta offers a variety of mattresses with iSeries technology, ranging from ultra-plush pillow top models to traditionally firm models.  Suggested retail prices range from $1299 – $2499 (Queen mattress plus standard foundation).  Visit www.serta.com to find a retailer near you.

Now, we all know how important a good night’s sleep is to our overall health and wellbeing.  So, why not Spring Up Your Sleep this year, and treat yourself to more restful nights for more energetic days?  Here are 5 helpful tips to help you renew your sleep this season:

1. Zen Your Bedroom.  Keeping your bedroom clean and clutter free will help reset your mind and body when you lay down at night.   Take inventory of the items in the room and ask yourself what can be removed to create a more peaceful atmosphere.  Have a television in your bedroom?  Now is a good time to take a “test run” for one week without the tube in your boudoir and see if you sleep better.  Plus, don’t forget to give the entire room a thorough Spring-cleaning, removing all dust build up from the winter.
2. Mind the Sheets & Pillows.  Your bed’s décor can help set a restful mood when you retreat to your bedroom at night.  However, selecting the wrong sheets and pillows can also ruin a good night’s sleep.  If it’s been a long time since you’ve upgraded your bedding, now is the time.  Soft, breathable sheets and premium, supportive pillows can spruce up the appearance of your bed AND the quality of your sleep.
3. Put Down the Wine.  Well, at least within the hours before bedtime.  Studies show that consuming alcohol in the hours before bedtime can negatively impact quality of sleep.    While its affects may calm you and help you fall asleep, alcohol can also cause you to wake up more during the night.  This will leave you feeling sleepy, and not to mention pretty cranky, the next day.  So, save the wine for happy hour instead.
4. Have a Heart-to-Heart with Fluffy.  Pet parents often find themselves sharing their bed with their “fur babies”.  It can be tough to turn down those puppy dog eyes, but sleep and pet experts alike will tell you this is one bad habit that you need to break.  First, letting your pet sleep on your bed blurs the lines of bed “ownership”, and your four-legged friend can quickly become territorial.  Second, you deserve more room to stretch while you sleep, and your pet doesn’t understand those boundaries.  Why not make everyone happy and buy Fluffy his or her own Serta pet bed, while you sprawl out comfortably on yours?  
5. Pull Back the Covers and Say Hello….to your Mattress.  When is the last time you thought about this big rectangular piece of furniture?  You are spending 1/3 of your life on it, so now is a good time to reintroduce yourself and see if its meeting your needs.  Are you experiencing any of the following problems with your mattress?

• A valley has developed in the section of the mattress where you sleep
• Sagging across the middle third of the mattress or along the sides makes you roll toward your partner
• The mattress makes creaking noises
• Soft, non-supportive edges are a sign of edge breakdown
• You’re waking up sore or stiff in the morning
• You’ve developed recurring back pain
• Your current mattress is 7-10 or more years old

If you answered “yes” to one of more of the above, it’s probably time to shop for a new mattress.  That may not sound like a whole lot of fun, but Serta can make it a little easier for you.  Check out our interactive Mattress Selector, where you can answer a short set of questions and we’ll recommend some great Serta mattresses for you.

What are your best tips for improving sleep this spring?  Email us at SertaFBHelp@gmail.com and we just may publish your tip on Facebook!

We did some basic research online to shed a little light on this mystery.   It turns out that it just takes a one-hour time change to mess with our circadian rhythms and our “body clocks”.  So, when your alarm went off this morning, your brain knew it was time to get up but your body didn’t get the memo.  And, when you get home tonight, your brain will be delighted that it’s still light outside, but your body will be confused about what time it really is.  In several days time, brain and body should meet up and get on the same page.  But, what to do until then?

Check out these tips from the National Sleep Foundation on everyday sleep habits that can ease the time change and help us sleep better every night: 

1. Go to sleep and wake at the same time every day, and avoid spending more time in bed than needed.
2. Use bright light to help manage your “body clock.” Avoid bright light in the evening and expose yourself to sunlight in the morning.
3. Use your bedroom only for sleep to strengthen the association between your bed and sleep. It may help to remove work materials, computers and televisions from your bedroom.
4. Select a relaxing bedtime ritual, like a warm bath or listening to calming music.
5. Create an environment that is conducive to sleep that is quiet, dark and cool with a comfortable mattress and pillows.
6. Save your worries for the daytime. If concerns come to mind, write them in a “worry book” so you can address those issues the next day.
7. If you can’t sleep, go into another room and do something relaxing until you feel tired.
8. Exercise regularly, but avoid vigorous workouts close to bedtime.
9. If you are experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, or “stop breathing” episodes in your sleep, contact your health care professional for a sleep apnea screening.

(The content above is owned by the National Sleep Foundation and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of the National Sleep Foundation.)

Did you see tip #5?  That’s right, we often overlook the role our bedroom environment – including the mattress – plays in the quality of our sleep.    This is why Serta and the National Sleep Foundation recently partnered to conduct a national poll about the bedroom environment.  We’ll have the results to share with you in the coming weeks – plus an exciting contest where you can nominate someone in your life to win a new mattress.

Until then, we hope you find these tips helpful, and remember that you can always learn more about Serta’s partnership with the National Sleep Foundation and our new Perfect Sleeper mattresses by visiting http://bit.ly/perfectsleeper.

It’s our favorite time of year!  Serta is proud to promote Sleep Awareness Week, an annual public education and awareness campaign from our friends at the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) that promotes the importance of sleep.

All week long we will be promoting sleep, beginning with the announcement of the NSF’s annual Sleep in America poll results, and ending with the clock change to Daylight Savings Time, when most Americans lose an hour of sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation Reveals this Year’s Sleep in America Poll

This year’s ‘Sleep in America’ Poll reveals how sleep, or lack of sleep, directly impacts America’s transportation workers, including airline pilots, railroad workers, truck drivers, bus drivers, taxi and limo drivers.  Learn more with ‘Sleep In America’ poll results HERE

The results of this poll got us thinking about how important sleep is to work performance and quality of life for all of us.  Whether you are an airline pilot, taxi driver, office professional, teacher, doctor or stay-at-home mom, how well you sleep impacts how well you perform throughout the day.

Follow the #sleepawareness conversation on Twitter @SertaMattress and Facebook page or check back here throughout the week for insights and tips for a better night’s sleep.

This week, we are committed to sharing some great sleep tips with our fans on Facebook and Twitter.  We’ll explore some of the best music, movies and books to aid in better sleep as well as how switching to Daylight Savings Time impacts our sleep.  Follow us to stay up to date and to share your favorite sleep tips in return.

Could you need a new mattress?

Finally, in honor of this Sleep Awareness Week, we are shedding light on the role a mattress plays in the quality of sleep. Do any of these 5 common sleep problems impact how well you sleep at night?

1. Tossing & Turning
2. Lack of Support
3. Sleeping Too Hot or Too Cold
4. Partner Disturbance
5. Mattress Sagging or Roll-Off

If so, then it’s probably time to consider a new mattress.   Yes, we know that mattress shopping can be intimidating.  That’s why we’ve engineered  The New Serta Perfect Sleeper, with input from the National Sleep Foundation to help address all 5 of these common sleep problems.

Watch the video to learn more, and be sure to join us on Facebook and Twitter all week for more helpful sleep tips!

Learn about the Serta Perfect Sleeper

Now, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we ask an age-old question – is sleeping separately really bad for the relationship? 

The bed: for many, it’s a sacred private space that symbolizes union and intimacy.

But sharing a bed seems to be falling out of favor with some, as more couples choose to go their separate ways at night. In fact, a 2005 National Sleep Foundation poll found that nearly one in four American couples sleeps in separate beds or separate rooms. And the National Association of Home Builders says that by 2015 it expects 60 percent of custom-built homes to have separate master bedrooms.

That may sound decidedly unromantic, but many people have a good reason for splitting up after dark. Sometimes one partner’s nighttime behaviors – loud snoring, sleep talking, restless movements and so forth – are too disruptive. In other cases, the “fit” between the couple’s sleeping habits is the problem. Maybe one person is a light sleeper and the other has a penchant for stealing covers. Or one partner loves to snuggle with the kids in the wee hours while the other can’t get comfortable amidst all the little elbows and knees. Add in conflicting sleep times, differing work schedules and TV habits or electronics and you can see why some partners give up.  Just because a couple chooses to live happily ever after doesn’t mean their nighttime personalities are a perfect match.

Couples come up with different arrangements: two beds in the same room will do the trick for some, while others head for completely separate rooms (especially in the case of loud snoring). Sleep is a fundamental biological need and the bottom line is that we do what’s necessary to protect it.

But are separate beds a sign of a distant relationship? Some couples say bed is a place they connect, talk about the day, share feelings and so on; in the midst of busy schedules and family life, beds can feel like a personal haven. And we know that physical affection – holding, cuddling and intimacy – is an important part of healthy relationships. Our brains release bonding chemicals like oxytocin when we touch each other lovingly. For a couple pulled in different directions by day, sharing a bed might be one of their only sources of physical contact.

Only you and your other half know if sleeping separately is the right plan. But if you want to stay under the sheets together, it’s important to talk and problem solve. If snoring is the issue, consider adjusting your head or body position, avoid alcohol before bed and invest in earplugs. Decide on the rules of the bed, such as if and when pets or kids are welcome.  Make sure the mattress and pillows are comfortable for both of you and negotiate things like bedtime schedules to give each person the best chance at rest.  Remember, couples spend a third of their lives in bed, so it’s well worth a dedicated discussion and some fine-tuning.

Did you know that a good night’s sleep can help you slim down and maintain an ideal body weight? Sleep deprivation may inhibit one’s ability to lose weight – even while exercising and eating well!  Sleep, diet, and exercise should all be a part of your fitness plan.

A 1999 study at the University of Chicago showed that restricting sleep to just 4 hours per night for a week brought healthy young adults to the point that some had the glucose and insulin characteristics of diabetics.

Research by Dr. Van Cauter found that people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to have bigger appetites due to the fact that their leptin levels (leptin is an appetite regulating hormone) fall, promoting appetite increase. This link between appetite and sleep provides further evidence that sleep and obesity are linked.

Though research shows that exercise is certainly good for one’s body and health, properly timing exercise is necessary to maximize the beneficial effects. For example, a good workout can make you more alert, speed up your metabolism, and energize you for the day ahead, but exercise right before bedtime can lead to a poor night’s sleep. For those who are physically fit, the timing of the exercise generally doesn’t make any difference.

To reach your goals for this year, you don’t have to kill yourself in the gym or try taking on diet fads.  Just take it one step at a time by trying to eat healthier and becoming more active.  Last and most certainly not least, add a good night’s sleep to your regiment.  It will make a world of a difference in how you feel and with your overall results. It will also give you a clear mind to stay away from the newest banana and brussel sprout diet craze!

Have we convinced you to make a sleep resolution?  How about you share it with us!  Visit our Serta’s Facebook Fan page and tell us why you’re resolving to get better sleep in 2012 and enter to win a Serta Mattress Set of your choice!

So…what makes this Serta exclusive technology different? 

Infused, not Coated with Gel – Using a proprietary process, our MicroSupport gel is actually infused directly into our exclusive premium memory foam. This gives our Cool Action™ material a unique combination of superior comfort, support, breathability and durability. Meanwhile, other “gel” memory foams are simply coated with a thin layer of gel over ordinary memory foam.

More Gel in a Richer Foam – Unlike other “gel infused” foams in the marketplace, we infuse our Cool Action material with up to 200% more gel. We also use an exclusive formulation of our premium, open-cell memory foam technology that is up to 25% denser than other products in the marketplace. This results in a richer, more premium feeling finished product with added support and durability.

It’s also a great time to shop because we are giving away two free iComfort Scrunch pillows with qualified iComfort purchases until January 2nd.  These super comfortable pillows are made with the same Cool Action gel memory foam – so your head and neck get the same cooling comfort and support that your body gets throughout the night.  Get details and find participating retailers here.