Overview: Sleep needs change as we grow and age. The right sleep system can help ensure those needs are met. In the four and a half decades that I’ve been driving I’ve owned 22 vehicles. Some were so fly, that I wish I could own them again, and others were just plain awful. I loved dropping the top on my convertible, but also owned a Nissan that was so old it was a Datsun-and I had to downshift if I ran over a piece of Double Bubble. I purchased each of those vehicles because they fit the needs of the time. My first car was a bucket of bolts that needed spit and bailing wire to hold it together. Then I celebrated college graduation and bought a cool sports car. Along the way I owned a family grocery getter van, a comfy four-door, a gas sipping hybrid, a classic coupe from 1956, and a couple 4-wheel SUVs. All of those served a purpose a that point in my life. And, when I sold or traded them off, all were still operating and roadworthy. (OK, not the old bucket of bolts that was sold for scrap.) I never waited until those vehicles were dead to make the change. We, the people, seem to be comfortable with the need to change our vehicle every 2-4 years, but endure being uncomfortable by waiting 10-12 years or more before changing our sleep system. It’s a natural fact. Changing a mattress as your life cycle changes will ensure a complete restorative sleep and a restful recovery through varying combinations of comfort and support layers. Experts recommend changing a mattress at least every eight years – but really, we should change our mattresses whenever life (or our aging bodies) call for it. Here’s an example sixty-year timeline with eight mattress changes, which according to my slide rule, is about one change every eight years: 6-18 Child/Youth – At this age, the body is still developing so superior support for good spinal development is necessary. Choose a size appropriate for the individual child (usually a Twin or Full) 19-25 Young Adult – Time to move out and move up to a larger size bed. Bodies are still supple and recover quickly so the emphasis is on active support for an active lifestyle. Most young adults move into a full or queen size at this point. 26-34 Newlywed Bed – Sharing a mattress with someone doesn’t mean you have to share their tossing and turning. Choose a mattress that isolates motion through enhanced foams, wrapped coils, or both. Couples that are just starting out often look for comfort and durability at a value price. A queen size is usually enough but some may prefer the extra space of a king. 35-42 Family and Career Time – Long days and short nights mean our sleep needs to be as high-quality as possible. Look for comfort in pressure-relieving foams to promote deeper sleep and isolate movement. Queen or king size is still the norm. 43-49 Young Mature – At this point in life, our minds think we’re still in our 20s but our bodies start to disagree. We don’t recover from life as easily as we used to so we need a mattress that supports restorative sleep, increased circulation, reduced tossing and turning, and temperature regulation. Couples frequently make the move to a king size at this point to help keep their sleeping space a bit more separate. 50-56 Empty Nester – Active, mature adults require mattresses that promote pain relief, healthy benefits and soft, deep comfort. More time is spent in bed watching TV and reading, so an upgrade to a motion base is recommended. 57-65 Retirement – Downsizing to a smaller home often means downsizing to a smaller mattress. More and more couples are moving to separate beds (like Lucy and Ricky) so they can have the comfort they want without compromise. If separate queen beds aren’t your style, a split-king with dual motion bases allows for the same customization. 66+ Early to bed, early to rise – The bedroom is used for a variety of activities – reading, TV, and resting. Comfort and support are important at this age so your body has time to restore itself on the limited sleep The right car at the right time makes driving, and even standing in traffic, a pleasure. When that car spends more time at Mr. Goodwrench than in the garage, it’s simple to figure out it’s time to change. It’s not as easy to figure out when it’s time for a new mattress because we gradually get used to the lower-quality sleep and soreness when waking up, but if you’re experiencing either of those and it’s been longer than eight years with your current mattress, it could be time for an update!