Dreams Survey Reveals That People in the South West Wake up Happy

LONDON, September 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• People from the South East wake up the grumpiest
• 20% of North Easterners wake up achy
• Half of Northern Irish wake up tired

Dreams, Britain's leading bed specialist, recently surveyed over 2,000 Brits on their sleeping habits and the latest results show that 40% of those living in South West wake up happy! This contrasts with nearly a quarter of those living in the South East waking up grumpy every morning.

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These figures coincide with David Cameron's 'Happiness Index' (Integrated Household Survey of 200,000 people aged 16 and over between April 2011 and March 2012) which also found inhabitants of the South West to be the most satisfied.

Interestingly half of those surveyed in Northern Ireland said they woke up tired while nearly 20% of North Easterners say they wake up achy.

"There are many factors which relate to our mood when rising, such as stress, diet, exercise and environment, in addition to more obviously things such as partners' snoring or mattress comfort," says Damian Topping, Senior Buyer and Sleep Expert, Dreams.

"The most important thing to ensure a good mood in the morning is a restful night's sleep and whether you live in a city or by a beach there are a number of things you can do to maximise a peaceful night, we've listed our top tips below," says Damian.

1) Sleep cycles:

There is no magic number when it comes to how much sleep we need. The key is to experiment and see what works for you. Keep a sleep log to find the bedtime routine that leads to the most restful night's sleep - from a warm bath to a cup of cocoa or a good book before bed, everybody is different!

2) Mattress know how:

Sleeping on the wrong kind of mattress can result in "getting out of bed on the wrong side" with aches, pains and a bad temper. Choosing the correct mattress on the other hand can work wonders helping you feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

When shopping for your mattress, don't be afraid to go for it. Forget politely perching on the edge - lie down in your usual sleep position in the middle of the mattress and see how it feels. Ensure that you have enough room to stretch out and turn comfortably. Memory foam can be a great option as they help to distribute body weight evenly - it's sort of like having millions of mini cushioned springs supporting you! If you have a partner it is essential to try out the mattress together.

3) Sleep positions:

We all sleep differently, from starfish to soldiers and the popular foetal position, but lying on your back with the head slightly elevated is regarded as the healthiest, as it helps give the brain optimal blood circulation and allows for more un-obstructed breathing, although only 19% of us currently sleep in this position.

4) Take time to relax

Make that the room temperature is right: a bedroom that is too hot or too cold can interfere with sleep quality.

Dreams is the UK's foremost bed specialist, with over 275 bed superstores nationwide and over 25 years experience offering everything for a great night's sleep  

For more information from the survey,  more sleeping tips, or about the Dreams range of beds and bedroom furniture, please contact Olivia or Kally on +44(0)1628-526208, or email Olivia@nobull-communications.co.uk