Susan Mathes » BedTimes Journal

Susan Mathes is government vp for Therapedic Worldwide and chair of the Higher Sleep Council. In September, she marked her sixteenth yr within the mattress business—all of them with Therapedic. Exterior of labor, she spends as a lot time as she will be able to along with her household, particularly her granddaughter, Neve, who lives in Boston—a four- to five-hour drive (with out site visitors) from the place she lives in New Jersey. Mathes makes it a degree to satisfy a buddy every week for dinner or drinks to allow them to keep related amid busy schedules. Monday nights are Mahjong nights in her neighborhood—she loves each the sport and the friendship that’s grown inside their group. On weekend mornings, she enjoys taking lengthy walks whereas listening to a e-book or a podcast to unwind and revel in a bit of time to herself.
BedTimes: Inform us about your bedtime routine.
Susan Mathes: Consolation is vital for me on the finish of the day. I prefer to be cozy in what I’m sporting and within the mattress I’m entering into. I settle in earlier than I’m really drained—often with a present on my iPad—after which give myself a bit of buffer to place it away, flip off the lights, and ease into sleep mode.
BT: What number of hours of sleep do you sometimes get?
SM: I hate to confess it, however 5 to seven hours is often the very best I do.
BT: Pets within the mattress—yea or nay?
SM: Love pets, however not in my mattress. All our snuggle time occurs earlier than bedtime. After that, they’re on their very own.
BT: What’s in your nightstand?
SM: Water, iPad, a e-book, studying glasses, and a framed photograph of my granddaughter, Neve, and my granddog, Gibbs—it’s the identical photograph, and I like seeing their faces earlier than mattress.
BT: What are your greatest sleep ideas?
SM: Preserve your routine constant and create an area that feels cozy. Consolation actually does make a distinction—the proper mattress, pillows, and sheets might help you unwind extra shortly. Additionally, give your self time to transition out of your daytime tempo to nighttime relaxation; I’m studying to be intentional about that. It’s more durable for me than it sounds.
BT: What’s the greatest sleep product you personal and why?
SM: I’m admittedly biased—I’m a Therapedic woman via and thru. My Tommy Bahama mattress (from the Therapedic manufacturing unit, Sleep Worldwide, in Florida) is really the very best mattress I’ve owned. I pair it with down pillows from a Therapedic top-of-bed accomplice and Therapedic sheets. For me, it’s a successful mixture, and I genuinely sit up for climbing into mattress on the finish of the day, even when I’m not fairly prepared to fall asleep. (Oops, is that one other rule I’m breaking?)
BT: What do you do when you could have insomnia?
SM: I’m usually a rule-follower however not in the midst of the night time—I often find yourself scrolling on my iPad. I’m making an attempt to be higher about that. Ideally, I simply lie there with my eyes closed and attempt to calm down. Even when I can’t sleep, I need to at the least really feel like I’m resting my thoughts and my physique.
BT: Now for a recreation of “Would You Fairly?” Sleep masks or sound machine?
SM: Sound machine for positive.
BT: Bodily e-book or Kindle?
SM: Bodily e-book at residence; audiobook whereas I’m strolling or driving.
BT: Earlier than mattress: Learn a e-book, watch a present, or take heed to a podcast?
SM: Watching a present—I do know it’s not the “proper” alternative, however I’m responsible as charged. (Oh
boy, I suppose I’m really a rule-breaker.)
BT: Is there the rest you wish to add?
SM: As I become older, I’m noticing how my sleep is altering. I’ve by no means been somebody who wants quite a lot of sleep to perform effectively, so I’ve to be intentional about getting sufficient. I understand how vital sleep is for total well being, so I’m engaged on it—and I’m hopeful I nonetheless have many nice nights of sleep forward!