We all know that getting quality sleep is critical part of a healthy lifestyle. But how often do you really get the recommended 7-8 full hours of uninterrupted sleep? If you’re anything like me – a person who creates to-do lists in her head and stresses about work – I’m lucky if I have a solid, restful night’s sleep once a week, putting me (and many of you) at a major sleep deficit.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 3 adults in the United States reported not getting enough rest or sleep every day. And as we approach Daylight Savings Time, this poor sleep quality gets even worse.
Conversely, recent studies have shown that Scandinavians are sleeping better and living longer than other populations of many countries. For instance, the Lifestyle Index from Sleep Junkie reported that Scandi countries like Denmark and Norway rank among the highest in the world for sleep quality – in fact, most are in the top 10 of the best sleep quality, while the U.S. ranks 87th. But why do Scandinavians have better quality sleep?
The reason may be in how they make their beds.
When I traveled to Norway last summer, one thing I noticed right away was the unique way that they make their beds. Upon arriving at our hotel in Oslo, we found not one duvet on the king size bed, but two duvets, placed neatly in vertical folds on the bed, as if it was dividing the bed into two, one half for each person.
At first, I thought this was rather odd, and not very romantic. But after doing a bit of research, I learned this bedding style is quite common in Scandinavian countries, making it so each person has their own preferred style of covers. Essentially, the practice of Scandi-style sleeping helps create a sleep environment that’s more conducive to better, higher quality sleep by allowing for better individual temperature control, less sleep interruption and, best of all, no one stealing the covers.
But does this Scandi sleep style really improve sleep? It’s quite possible. Having a separate duvet on vacation did make me feel more relaxed as it gave me my own space, a sleep haven made up just for me. However, I think for it to really have a longer-term positive impact on me, I have to adopt this approach at home in a more consistent way…..oh, and learn how to stop making to-do lists in my head right before bed.
Now, it’s time to get some sleep!
Jennifer
