It’s estimated that 62% of all Americans suffer from persistent sleep problems at least one night per week. And those can add up to even more severe issues that don’t resolve easily, causing bad patterns that spiral into severe sleep deprivation and inhibited performance at work and in other facets of daily life. In fact, the average American gets under seven hours of sleep every single night.

Of course, that’s fine for some folks. But others need their beauty rest and can’t sacrifice it at any costs. You could blame your nighttime troubles on plenty of things — job-related stress, too much caffeine during the day, smartphone addiction — but sometimes the most menacing culprit is right under your nose. Or should we say under your back.

There are very simple ways to get better sleep at night, and simplest of all is by getting a new mattress. Here’s how you can tell when it might be time to start looking for an upgrade.

1. Aches, pains and stiffness.

Perhaps the most troubling sign that you might be in need of a new mattress is the one that’s felt the hardest throughout your body. Sore necks, stiff backs and other general bodily pains can be attributed to a bed that’s run its course — even if you sleep on a king size mattress. One of the easiest ways to get better sleep is to simply toss out the old springy board you’ve been sleeping on for years and give your back one of the adjustable beds or memory foam mattresses it deserves. After all, experts recommend changing it out every eight years or so.

2. Eyesores on the surface.

The way you look when you wake up can (most times) be fixed with a shower and a cup of coffee, but the way your mattress looks is a different story. Lumps, holes and tears are signs that your bedding is in serious need of an upgrade, and the fact that you’d continue to subject yourself to its cruel trappings on a nightly basis is borderline self-mutilation.

3. Allergy aggravation.

Traditional spring and even some foam mattresses tend to trap in hazardous allergens, especially dust and pet dander, even if you keep your home regularly cleaned and polished. You could invest in an air-tight mattress cover, but even those aren’t immune to the sneezy wrath of household allergens. Luckily, certain mattress materials like latex boast their allergen-free qualities.

Out of all the ways to get better sleep, the most basic one starts with replacing the mattress right out from under your back. Don’t just settle for the first one you see in the showroom, either — try them out! Bring a pillow and ask your sales associate to give you 10 minutes of “trial” time. Your future self will thank you. See this link for more.

michael kors tasche blau michael kors tasche blau michael kors tasche blau