08.31.09
More on Pillows
A pillow must support your head so that your neck and spine are properly aligned. Choose the right pillow for the way you sleep:
Soft – for the tummy sleepers
Medium – for the back or those that change positions during the night
Firm – for those that sleep on their sides
Adjustability is a must. A quality pillow can mold to the shape and thickness that you desire for the way you sleep. Feather and down fills tend to be more adjustable than synthetic fibers.
Give consideration to your health. A good pillow that supports your head properly contributes to the health of your back and neck. A pillow cover protects you from the allergens that accumulate in your pillow as well as doubling the life of your pillow.
08.25.09
Chamomile Tea as a Natural Sleep Aid
Trouble sleeping??? Drink chamomile tea. Chamomile has been used throughout time as a very effective sleep aid. Chamomile is a common flowering plant that is easy to grow and can be found near the herbs at your local garden shop. The leaves and flowers can be dried at home using a food dehydrator or can be found already packaged as a tea at common grocery stores or health food stores. The tea is most effective when sipped a half an hour to forty-five minutes before going to bed.
08.19.09
Revive Your Mattress
Do you have a mattress that is tired and worn? For a fraction of the price of a new mattress, you can make your mattress look great and feel cushy and comfortable once again. Refresh it with a sumptuous new mattress cover and revive your mattress!
08.02.09
The Advantage of THE COMFORTER
Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days. We want our dollar to go more. Can we do that and still get the comfort we want? YES!
You can save energy & money by taking advantage of great insulating capacity of a down or down alternative comforter & turning down thermostat at night.
Down is nature’s best insulator and keeps you warm by trapping heat in the air trapped by the down cluster. You are kept warm by a layer of warm air trapped in the comforter, not by trapping heat next to your body. Microfiber fill, though not quite as efficient an insulator as down, acts in a similar way.
Fill power is the number of cubic inches that one ounce of down will fill. The more and larger the down clusters, the higher the fill power. The higher the fill power, the better air trapping and insulating capacity of the down. You increase insulating capability by increasing fill power, not adding more down.
Look for comforters with baffled boxes. Baffled boxes are a series of inner chambers with high walls that hold the fill in place and keep it even throughout the comforter. They also allow the fill to “loft” and fill with air to impre insulating characteristics of the fill.
Protect your investment in the down or down alternative comforter by using a duvet cover. What’s a duvet cover? “Duvet” is the French word for “down”. Therefore, a duvet cover is a cover for your comforter. Think of it as a pillow case for your comforter. It protects the comforter (it is much easier to wash a duvet cover than a comforter) and is a decorative element that can be changed to give your bed a new look seasonally.
07.28.09
Sleeping on a Cloud
Did you know that Europeans have been sleeping on featherbeds for hundreds of years? Featherbeds comfort secret is that they relieve pressure points, reduce tossing and turning, and improve restful sleep. It makes sleeping on a cloud a reality.
I like the featherbeds that are made with short quills – they tend to be “bouncier” and more fluffly than those made with the long quills. In addition the ones made from the short quills, do not poke through like the long quills do.
I know I LOVE mine! and miss it whenever I don’t have it to sleep on. In fact, I wish I could travel with one.
If you have a featherbed or have slept on one, I would love to hear your experience with them.
07.27.09
SLEEP FACTS
- Adequate sleep is necessary for optimal mental performance.
- 70% of adults don’t get enough sleep.
- If you need an alarm clock to wake up, you are sleep-deprived.
- Women have more nightmares and are more likely to suffer from insomnia than men.
- Premenstrual women sleep less and experience tiredness, irritability, confusion and depression.
- Menopausal women who experience hot flashes sleep more poorly than those who don’t.
- If you toss and turn for one hour every night it is the equivalent of missing a whole night’s sleep each week.
- Over 50% of adults report thermal incompatibility in bed with their sleep partner.
How much sleep is enough?
How much sleep is enough? Most adults should look to get 7 hours while children and adolescents should get about 9 to 10 hours sleep. How do you stack up?
Sleep, like exercise and nutrition, is essential for good health and general well being
Sleep rejuvenates the body, regulates your mood, related to your learning and memory functions, helps you learn a new skill, helps you stay on task and is a critical factor in your health, weight and energy level.
Healthy Habits:
- Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule even on the weekends
- Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soak in the tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music
- Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool
- Sleep on a comfortable mattress and the supportive pillow – you may wish to consider a different position – keep your body in a “mid-line” position, so that both your head and neck are kept roughly straight. Don’t use a flat pillow and don’t stack your pillows - you could try a pillow btwn your legs if you sleep on your side to support your hips and make for over more comfortable position – if you sleep on your back, consider a pillow under your legs to take the stress off your lower back
- Use your bedroom only for sleep and intimacy
- Finish eating 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime
- Exercise regularly – but finish the routine at least 3 hour before bedtime
- Avoid caffeine close to bedtime – it can keep you awake
- Avoid nicotine – used close to bedtime, it can lead to poor sleep
- Avoid alcohol close to bedtime
- Keep a journal to track any unusual patterns
- Don’t nap for more than 15-20 minutes per day
- Wear appropriate clothing that reflects the weather – cold feet keeps you awake
- Avoid leaving your TV or music on all night – use a timer to make sure it turns off shortly after you fall asleep
- If you’re having difficulty sleeping,
- concentrate on regulating your breathing so that you can shut your brain off.
- get of bed. Go to another room and do something relaxing.
- If you still have problems – consult your physician
Pillows
National talk shows have addressed the health issues of old pillows. The life of a pillow can be determined by the care and the quality of a pillow. A reasonable guide is 3 to 5 years – not from cradle to grave. Once it starts feeling kind of thin and lumpy and it’s not as supportive as it used to be, it’s time to start thinking about buying a new pillow.
A pillow must support your head so that your neck and spine are properly aligned. The right firmness depends on whether you are a side sleeper, back sleeper, tummy sleeper or a tosser.
