How Sleep Cycles Work—And Why the Right Mattress Matters
Sleep is more than closing your eyes and waking up refreshed—it’s a biological process made up of distinct stages known as sleep cycles. Each cycle plays a vital role in restoring the body and mind, and the right mattress can be the difference between moving smoothly through those cycles—or waking up groggy and unrested.
Understanding how sleep cycles work helps explain why investing in the right sleep environment, especially your mattress, is one of the most important choices you can make for your health and well-being.
The Four Stages of Sleep
A typical night of rest moves through four stages, repeating in cycles that last about 90 minutes each. Most adults complete 4–6 cycles per night.
1. NREM Stage 1 (Light Sleep)
This is the short transition between wakefulness and sleep.
Breathing slows, muscles relax, and brain activity begins to decrease.
A disruptive mattress here can prevent you from settling into deeper sleep.
2. NREM Stage 2 (Deeper Light Sleep)
Your body temperature drops and heart rate slows.
This stage makes up about 50% of the night.
A supportive mattress helps keep the body relaxed, preventing toss-and-turn awakenings.
3. NREM Stage 3 (Deep Sleep)
Known as slow-wave sleep, this stage is essential for physical restoration.
Muscle repair, immune strengthening, and cell growth all occur here.
A mattress that doesn’t support spinal alignment or pressure points can cut this stage short, reducing physical recovery.
4. REM Sleep (Dream Sleep)
The brain becomes more active, processing memories and emotions.
REM sleep is linked to learning, creativity, and emotional balance.
An uncomfortable mattress can cause micro-awakenings, reducing the time spent in REM.
Why the Right Mattress Matters for Sleep Cycles
A well-designed mattress supports your body so your mind can focus on cycling naturally through all stages of sleep. Here’s how:
Spinal Alignment: Keeps the body relaxed, reducing sleep interruptions.
Pressure Relief: Prevents aches and numbness that pull you out of deeper sleep stages.
Temperature Regulation: Breathable fabrics and foams prevent overheating, which often causes wakefulness during REM.
Reduced Motion Transfer: Essential for couples—so one sleeper doesn’t disrupt the other’s cycles.
The Bottom Line
Healthy sleep isn’t about how long you’re in bed—it’s about how well you move through your sleep cycles. A high-quality, supportive mattress makes that possible, giving your body the foundation it needs for true restoration.
At EJ Schrader, every mattress is designed with one purpose: to help you achieve deep, restorative sleep—whether in your home, your yacht, or anywhere life takes you.
