Research shows that lack of sleep impairs memory, judgment, focus and can cause anxiety, forgetfulness and depression. Some studies link poor sleep with increased susceptibility to ulcers, heart disease, obesity and a host of age-related ailments. Sleep deprivation can cause highway fatalities and reduce productivity at work and at school.

Our bodies need sleep to regenerate, repair and refuel. The longer you go without a good night’s sleep, the longer it’s going to take your body to recover from fatigue, injury or illness. Good sleep habits go a long way toward keeping your youthful exuberance and energy alive and well so you can really enjoy your life.

Causes of Poor Sleep
Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep can be caused by a number of factors, including diet and exercise habits; some medications; pain or discomfort from a medical condition; anxiety or depression; sleep interruption from a sleep disorder, and sometimes simply from a poor sleep environment or bedding quality.

Restoring Good Sleep What can you do to make sure you get the right amount of quality sleep to keep you at your best? If you aren’t suffering from a sleep disorder, practicing poor sleep hygiene or engaging in unhealthy habits, you may need to improve your bedding by adding a mattress topper, replacing your pillows or upgrading your mattress.

A mattress that provides both comfort and support, like the Avena™ Foam Mattress available at Camping World, can greatly improve your sleep quality in your RV or at home. The 10" thick Avena Foam Mattress has no metal springs to poke, break or squeak. Two layers of premium hypoallergenic foam add more comfort and deeper support for total body relaxation, soothing aches and pains and reducing tossing and turning. A 3" thick layer of Avena Foam offers exceptional support, dispersing body weight evenly to relieve pressure. A 7" thick antimicrobial foam foundation layer conforms to your body naturally while resisting body impressions, retaining its shape night after night.

The Avena Foam Mattress absorbs motion so you won’t wake or disturb your partner, so you both enjoy peaceful sleep. It dissipates heat to help you stay cool for better sleep. The cover draws moisture away from your skin and is luxuriously soft, smooth and cool. Flame retardant and eco-friendly, the Avena Foam Mattress is made in the USA without the use of ozone-depleting substances. A rigorous 100,000-cycle test ensures lasting comfort and durability; it comes with a 10-year limited warranty. It’s packed in a handy wheeled box that makes it easy to transport to your home or RV.

The Avena Foam Mattress is available at Camping World in three popular sizes: the 60"L x 74"W Short Queen (Item #56064, PC Price $669.99 Reg. $744.44), the 60"L x 79"W Queen (Item #56063, PC Price $699.99 Reg. $777.77) and the 72"L x 80"W King (Item #56352, PC Price $799.99 Reg. $888.88).

Healthy Sleep Tips
To enjoy a deeper and more restorative night’s sleep and a healthier life, here are some simple tips.

1. Retire within two hours and rise within one hour of the same time every day, even on weekends.
2. Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol, which suppress deep sleep, within three to six hours of bedtime.
3. Avoid heavy meals within three hours of bedtime.
4. Use your bed for resting or sleeping, not for office work, watching television or playing video games (unless it helps you to doze off).
5. Exercise moderately for 30 minutes a day, but no later than three hours before lights out, unless exercise relaxes you--then it may actually help you sleep.
6. Sip warm milk or herb tea before bed to raise body temperature and to help induce sleep. Chamomile tea is a good choice.
7. Snack on protein and complex carbohydrates up to one hour before bed to enlist the aid of these naturally calming compounds.
8. Nap no later than eight hours before you are planning on going to bed to avoid sleep interference.
9. Put work aside two to three hours before sleeping.
10. Write out a “worry list” or “to-do list” of bothersome matters before bed to help your mind disengage.
11. Make the bedroom into a sanctuary. Try aromatherapy, or bring the freshness of the outdoors inside with air-dried sheets and sunned pillows and comforters. Linen sprays scented with soothing lavender or rose offer another option.
12. Pamper yourself with massage, meditation, soothing music, yoga, positive imagery, biofeedback, a warm bath or other techniques to help you relax.
13. Keep the bedroom quiet, dark and cool.
14. If you fail to fall asleep within 25 minutes, get out of bed and read for a while, selecting soothing rather than stimulating material.
15. Consult a doctor before taking melatonin, which may produce insomnia if given at the wrong time, or other sleep aids, which may prove ineffective, unhealthy or habit-forming.
16. Dim lights two to three hours before bedtime and get out in bright sunshine for five to 30 minutes as soon as you arise to help set your brain’s internal clock to your sleep-wake schedule.
17. If slumber continues to elude you, consider a visit to a sleep specialist.