7 Years Lost: Why Your Expensive Mattress Isn’t Fixing Your Sleep

Did you know the average person spends around 33 years of their life asleep, yet almost 7 of those years are spent just trying to fall asleep?

Seven years.

Not sleeping. Not resting. Just lying there.

Watching the clock. Flipping the pillow. Running tomorrow’s to-do list in your head like it’s a Netflix series on repeat.

Most people don’t struggle with going to bed. They struggle with switching off.

And that’s the part most sleep advice completely misses.

We’re told to focus on how long we sleep. But the real issue is how well we sleep.

You can be in bed for eight hours and still wake up feeling flat if it takes you an hour to drop off and you spend the night half-awake.

That’s not rest. That’s just being horizontal.

Why Sleep Has Become So Hard (And It’s Not Your Fault)

Modern life isn’t designed for good sleep.

We live switched on.

Emails at night. Phones by the bed. Stress that doesn’t clock off at 6pm. Caffeine still in your system at dinner time.

So when you finally lie down, your body is tired… But your nervous system is still wide awake.

That’s why “just relax” is such useless advice.

If relaxing were a choice, everyone would sleep perfectly.

But relaxation is physical, not motivational.

Your body needs the right conditions, internally and externally, to power down.

The Sleep Industry’s Favourite Lie

Here’s the lie we’ve all bought into:

“If I just fix my bedroom, my sleep will fix itself.”

So we buy things.

New mattress. Better pillow. Cooling sheets. Blackout blinds. White noise machines.

And yes, those things help.

But they only work if your body is capable of relaxing in the first place.

If your internal “off switch” is stuck, no mattress on earth will fix it.

That’s why so many people say:

“My bed is amazing… but I still can’t sleep.”

That sentence tells you everything.

Fix the Outside First (Because It Still Matters)

Before we talk about supplements or nutrients, let’s get the basics right.

Your environment sends powerful signals to your brain.

Darkness matters

Even small amounts of light tell your brain it’s daytime. Blackout curtains help more than most people realise.

Temperature matters

A slightly cooler room makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Noise matters

Even low-level noise keeps your nervous system alert. White noise can help mask it.

Your phone matters most of all

Blue light and mental stimulation are sleep killers. If your phone is in your hand at midnight, your brain doesn’t think it’s bedtime.

Do these things first.

But understand this.

They won’t work on their own.

The External Trap

This is where people get frustrated.

They do everything “right”.

Dark room. Cool temperature. No phone. Lovely bed.

And still wake up at 2am. Wide awake. Heart racing. Thoughts spiralling.

That’s not a bedroom issue.

That’s an internal state issue.

Your body hasn’t been given the signal that it’s safe to switch off.

Why Your Body Won’t Power Down

Your nervous system has two main modes.

One for action. One for rest.

Modern life keeps us stuck closer to action all day long.

Deadlines. Traffic. Screens. Stress.

Over time, the body forgets how to fully relax.

One of the most common reasons is that we don’t get enough of the nutrients involved in calming the nervous system.

Not in a dramatic, medical way. Just enough to function, not enough to unwind properly.

Magnesium for Sleep, Why It Comes Up So Often

If you’ve searched “improve sleep” before, you’ve probably seen magnesium mentioned.

There’s a reason for that.

Magnesium plays a key role in helping the body relax.

It’s involved in muscle relaxation. It supports a calmer nervous system. It helps the body transition from “on” to “off”.

But here’s the catch.

Not all magnesium is the same.

Why Most Magnesium Supplements Don’t Do Much

Many people try magnesium once and give up.

They grab a cheap tablet from the supermarket, take it for a few nights, feel nothing, and move on.

Or worse, it upsets their stomach and they decide magnesium “doesn’t agree with them”.

That usually isn’t magnesium’s fault.

It’s the form.

Some forms are poorly absorbed. Some are harsh on digestion. Some are included because they’re cheap, not because they work well.

Absorption matters.

Magnesium Bisglycinate, A Gentler Option

Magnesium bisglycinate is often chosen because it’s known for being easier on the stomach and better tolerated by many people.

Instead of flooding the system, it’s designed to be absorbed more smoothly.

That makes it a popular choice in evening routines where the goal is calm, not disruption.

But magnesium alone isn’t the whole picture.

Sleep Isn’t Just Physical, It’s Mental Too

Ever felt physically tired but mentally wired?

That’s incredibly common.

Your body wants to sleep. Your mind refuses to cooperate.

This is where calming compounds that support mental relaxation come into play.

L-Theanine, Quieting the Mental Noise

L-theanine is an amino acid commonly associated with calm focus.

People often describe it as taking the “edge” off racing thoughts.

Not sedating. Not foggy. Just less mental chatter.

The kind of calm that makes it easier to stop replaying the day when your head hits the pillow.

Apigenin, The Subtle Wind-Down Signal

Apigenin is a natural compound found in certain plants traditionally associated with calm evening routines.

It’s not a knockout ingredient.

It’s more like a nudge.

A signal that says, “It’s okay to slow down now.”

When combined with other calming nutrients, it fits neatly into a bedtime routine without feeling heavy or artificial.

Why Drift Off Uses a Capsule Format

Some people assume sleep support should be a drink.

But capsules have a few advantages.

They’re simple. They’re consistent. They’re easy to take anywhere.

No mixing. No taste. No extra steps.

Drift Off was designed as a no-friction habit, not a ceremony.

Something you can take 30–60 minutes before bed, even on busy nights, without turning sleep into a project.

What Drift Off Is Designed to Do

Drift Off isn’t about forcing sleep.

It’s about supporting the conditions that allow sleep to happen naturally.

Many people describe feeling:

Less physical tension in the evening. Less mental looping when they lie down. An easier transition from awake to asleep.

Not drugged. Not knocked out. Just calmer.

Falling Asleep Is Only Half the Win

Getting to sleep matters.

Staying asleep matters just as much.

When the body remains tense, sleep tends to stay shallow.

Supporting relaxation before bed can help create a smoother night overall, rather than a crash-and-wake cycle.

Sleep and Mood Are Closely Linked

Poor sleep doesn’t just make you tired.

It makes everything feel heavier.

Lower patience. Shorter fuse. Less emotional resilience.

When sleep improves, many people notice they simply cope better.

Not because life changed. Because they’re better rested for it.

This Isn’t About Perfection

You don’t need a flawless routine.

You don’t need to meditate for an hour. You don’t need to live like a monk.

You just need one small, repeatable signal that tells your body the day is winding down.

That’s what Drift Off is designed to support.

What Drift Off Is Not

It’s not a sleeping pill. It doesn’t claim to treat sleep disorders. It won’t override bad habits on its own.

It’s a support, not a shortcut.

A way to help your body do what it already knows how to do, when it’s given the right conditions.

Stop Losing Sleep Over Sleep

If you’ve fixed the bedroom but your body still won’t switch off, the missing piece may be internal.

Not more effort. Not more hacks. Just better support.

Drift Off was built for people who want sleep to feel natural again, not engineered.

Simple. Calming. Easy to stick to.

Ready to Support Your Sleep Routine?

If you’re looking to improve sleep without turning bedtime into another task list, Drift Off fits quietly into your evening.

No drama. No gimmicks. Just a calmer way to end the day.

Find out more here