July 2013 – Page 2 – Pillows.com Blog

July 9, 2013

Way to Fight Insomnia

Insomnia, the inability to fall asleep, can be frustrating and often leads to next day impairment while awake. For me, the cause of my insomnia is often stress, which is why I’ve had to come up with my own little remedy to combat insomnia.

Clear your head before bed– Anxiety triggers insomnia for me, so I usually take a moment before bed to write down the reasons that I’m feeling stressed. I then create a mini to do list for the next day. This way, I’m not tossing and turning in bed and thinking about how I am going to accomplish certain tasks.

Exercise during the day– Though it is not certain how exactly exercise helps those suffering from insomnia, it has been proven in research that exercise does help people fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer. For me, it helps me distress and it just tires my body out! I’ve also heard that yoga is a great way to fight insomnia since it relaxes and calms your body and mind. I’m no Yogi, but I’ve done some research for you and found an excellent article that highlights the yoga moves that can help with insomnia. Check out the recommended moves from Yoga Journal.

Create the ultimate bed sanctuary– Establish a sleep only zone for your bed. This means no watching tv, eating, reading, or arguing in bed. This will train your mind to associate your bed with only sleep, leaving all of those stress and anxiety thoughts behind. If you can fall asleep within 25 minutes, then get out of bed and do something relaxing to distract you from worrying about falling asleep. Check out our previous blog article on how to create the perfect bed sanctuary

I hope this can help you fight off the insomnia monster. I’m always open to your feedback so let me know If you have any input on ways to fight insomnia!

Blog Author: Chelsea, Director of Marketing

July 5, 2013

How to Stay Healthy on Vacation

It’s that time of year when most are planning their vacation which means a time to indulge in drinks and delicious food that may or may not be so healthy. It is also a time to get the most out of your vacation which means a lack in sleep as well. Here are a few ways to make your vacation as awesome as possible without damaging your health too much. It is also important not to break too many habits away from home.

Sleep is probably the biggest factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle while on vacation. Most people tend to make sleep the least of their priorities since they want to get the most time and fun out of their vacation. What you don’t know is that this can impact your sleeping habits back at home once your no longer on vacation. Ultimately, this can lead to mood swings, poor health, and even memory loss. Sleep is the most important factor in maintaining sound mind and sound body and has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease over a long period of time. Try to maintain the sleeping patterns used while at home.

While on vacation it’s important to include a “sleep vacation” as well. This means listening to your body when you start to get tired and choosing that time as a consistent bed time. Do not use an alarm clock to wake up. Vacations are a great way to establish a pattern of sleeping that you can even take home if your personal life is hectic. The benefits of sleep vacation allow you to find out how much sleep you really need, establish a sleep pattern, and pay back sleep debt. You will also start to feel sharper, happier, and healthier. The next step is to make sure you continue to this patter.

Other factors that can lead to unhealthy sleep while on vacation are the consumption of alcoholic beverages and unhealthy foods. Sure it ok to splurge a little while on vacation but it’s important to keep in mind that alcohol inhibits your body from getting actual REM sleep. And junk food can sometimes make you feel full and gross which in turn can keep you up at night. Remember, that you can always ask for custom foods and drink in moderation.

Vacations are a great time to let loose, party, meet new people, enjoy company, and just have a great time. It is also a time to relax, catch up on some zzz’s and enjoy life without feeling worked. Take the opportunity and allow your body to rejuvenate by allowing it the proper sleep it needs. You will wake feeling happier, healthier, and you will enjoy your vacation that much more.

Blog Author: Jesse, Channel Manager

July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

How to Clean a Pillow

As we know, our pillows are where we rest our heads for the night. Pillows get dirty from body oils, sweat and saliva that seep into the pillow while we sleep. We can’t really control these natural bodily functions, but we can take other preventative measures that will keep our pillows from getting dirty. Here are a few tips to keep help keep our pillows clean:

We can keep a pillowcase on our pillows and wash the pillowcases once a week along with our sheets. For added protection, we may place two pillowcases on each pillow. Put a zippered pillow cover on our pillows under the pillowcases. This will help protect the pillows from yellowing; they will also help to keep dust mites out. Remove and wash the pillow covers once a month. Take note that pillow covers are different from pillow cases. They are made of materials that don’t allow body oils and other fluids to seep into the pillow itself.

Moreover, we should wash our pillows three to four times a year. Read the tag on your pillows for specific care instructions, and adhere closely to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Make sure the pillow is completely dry before putting pillow cases back on.

Eventually, all pillows need to be replaced, no matter how well we care for them. Here is a way to identify a pillow that is no longer doing its job. Simply fold the pillow in half; if the pillow springs back, it is still in good shape. However, if the pillow does not unfold itself, it needs to be replaced. If you are especially prone to allergies then you might want to change your pillow more frequently to avoid dust build up that’s inevitable over time. Bottom line, we would recommend changing your pillows every 2-3 years, and once a year if you have trouble with allergies.

Blog Author: Jerry, Quality Control Manager