Evan Archuleta – Page 13 – Pillows.com Blog

March 4, 2014May 13, 2014

Sleep Awareness Week: The Importance and Benefits of Sleep

A few years ago, if you had asked me about the importance of sleep I would have told you it was important to re-energize. But, that is just one of the few benefits of sleep. The science of sleep is a very young subject and every year I learn a little more about the importance of sleep and the benefits it has in one’s life. Despite all the research done on sleep, it is still fascinating to know that there is not a whole lot of information that scientist understand about sleep. However, they have mentioned a few things they understand about the importance of sleep:

1.Sleep is more important than Food – when it comes to improving performance. Anders Ericsson’s famous study of violinists focuses on performers sleeping an average of 8 hours out of every 24 with naps in between. Those who slept more than the average American were the top violinists and performers.

2.Sleep Improves memory and critical thinking – sleep loss means mind loss due to the fact that sleep loss cripples immediate memory, working memory, mood, logical reasoning ability, and general math knowledge. The term “sleep on it” comes into play when talking about this subject. If you sleep over a problem or dilemma you are more than likely to think more clearly and have better problem solving skills!

3. Sleeping can put you in a good mood– Negative stimuli get processed by the amygdala; positive or neutral memories gets processed by the hippocampus. Sleep deprivation hits the hippocampus harder than the amygdala. These result in people experiencing a more negative attitude when they don’t get enough sleep.

4.Napping is good– When you start to feel tired in the afternoon that is just your brain relaying that it wants to nap. Napping( power napping)and sleeping make you a smarter person and help short term memory storage. This helps make room for new information to be stored and helps revitalize you. Power naps are extremely beneficial and should only last between 15-20 minutes around noon (anything later than 3pm can disrupt your sleep cycle).

These are just a few of the important basic understandings of sleep. The basic understanding that all must take away is that sleep does impact the important part of your brains that help develop you into a healthier person mentally and physically. I am personally excited to see where the science of sleep will be in 10 or even 20 years. I am sure that the growing science of sleep will lead us to embark on journeys of our own dreams, allow us to see what we can’t, and grow our minds even more!

blog author: Jesse, Bedding Expert

Resources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-schwartz/sleep_b_832353.html

http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/the-secret-and-surprising-power-of-naps

http://www.businessinsider.com/mind-blowing-science-of-sleep-2013-11

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20459221_2,00.html)

http://www.apa.org/research/action/sleep-deprivation.aspx

March 3, 2014May 13, 2014

Sleep Awareness Week 2014

Good morning, Pillow fans!

Your favorite pillow marketer Chelsea here! Yesterday, we kicked off the start of Sleep Awareness Week brought to you by the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep Awareness Week is a public education and awareness campaign with the purpose of bringing attention to the importance of sleep! At Pillows.com we use this week as a valuable opportunity to educate our own customers on the importance of sleep and how you can sleep better! This week we will be educating via blog posts, Facebook posts, and newsletters.

What’s Pillows Got To Do With It?

Our main goal at Pillows.com is to ensure that our customers sleep better, and this is backed by our Sleep Better Guarantee! A proper pillow and bedding supports the body allowing you to rest easily and thus sleep better. One of the benefits of my job is that I get to see how our products help people achieve better sleep. We get numerous phone calls and emails daily raving about how great our products are, and how they have changed and improved our customer’s quality of sleep. I’ve listed below our top pillows that we continue to get positive feedback on! I genuinely believe that these pillows can drastically improve your quality of sleep – enjoy! Don’t know where to start when purchasing a pillow? Read our simple 3 step pillow buying guide

Post by Pillows.com.

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Coupon code: SLEEP2014

Sale ends 3/9 at 11:59 pm PST

My top recommendations for down pillows

Pacific Coast ® Double Down Surround ® – If you are looking for a soft-medium support pillow then this is for you! This is a top quality pillow that is durable enough to be featured at luxury hotels. I always gift this pillow to friends and family who are looking for a soft down pillow that is still supportive.

Pillowtex ® Triple Core Down/Feather – Now this is one of the pillows that I have on my bed. It is classified as a medium- firm down/feather pillow, but it is still nice and lofty (fluffy) which I want from a down/feather pillow. The bedding expert team often recommends Pillowtex since this manufacturer tends to fill their pillows a little more generously compared to other brands.

Phoenix Down Overstuffed Down/Feather – This pillow is the ultimate firm down/feather pillow. I got this pillow for my mom since she’s been looking for a firm down/feather for years (which is often hard to find, since down/feather tends to be softer fills) This is her new favorite pillow and I like to think that it earned me extra brownie points with my mama 🙂

Check out our down/feather pillow buying guide

My top recommendations for down alternative pillows

Restful Nights ® Conformance Supreme Pillow

I was shocked when I first felt this pillow and learned that it’s not down/feather filled. It seriously feels like down since it is filled with tiny polyester clusters that mimic the feeling of down. It is scrunchable, yet still supportive!

Restful Nights ® Ultraflow Optimum Polyester Pillow

This pillow is another top seller. It is more supportive than the Conformance Supreme, but you can still mold and shape it. This pillow will also stay lofty and hold it’s shape longer than traditional down/feather pillows

My top recommendations for foam pillows

Technogel ® Deluxe Pillow – Now this is my all time favorite pillow! I’m usually not the biggest fan of foam pillows since I tend to like softer fills, but this pillow is absolutely amazing! The foam is supportive, but softer and gives more compared to other foam pillows. It also has a layer of cooling gel, which is a huge bonus for the Summer months. This pillow is a little pricey, but I swear it’s worth every penny!

Malouf ® Latex Pillow – I love Malouf ® pillows since they come in different varieties of foam and support. If you want a very supportive pillow, then the high profile version is perfect for you!

Blog author, Chelsea, Director of Marketing

February 25, 2014May 13, 2014

The Ultimate Pillow Buying Guide For Side Sleepers

Finding the best sleeping position can be an arduous task that can waste precious sleeping time. For me, sleeping on my side is the only position that feels right. Making sure that you have the right pillow for your sleep style is essential to effortless sleep. Knowing what you are looking for will make your pillow shopping experience smoother and more successful.

Side Sleeping Benefits

-Can reduce snoring
-Left side sleeping allows stomach to cradle its contents and can reduce acid reflux.
-Left side sleeping may facilitate more effective lymph node drainage, than right side sleeping.
-Centering your head with your spine can diminish neck and back pain.
-Increase in blood flow and comfort during pregnancies.

Pillow Design features to look for:

-High loft: Thickness of pillow from bed to head
-Gussetted: An extra piece around the edge that can increase the amount of fill and thickness, opposed to tapered edge. (Photo below)
-A firmer pillow will make sure that your head stays in the right place all night long.

Pillow Fills:

There are different fill types within pillows that give them different attributes for different styles of sleeping. The main fill materials are: Down & Feather, Polyester, Latex, and Memory Foam.

Down & Feather

Down & Feather options can be on the softer side, so look for a pillow with a higher fill volume and higher % of feather that will provide enough support for a side sleeper. Down clusters are softer than regular feathers, so make sure there is a high content of feathers.

Features to look for:

-Feather fill is firmer than down fill – Finding a pillow with a higher percentage of feathers to down will make a firmer more supportive pillow.
-Multi-chambered pillows – Some Down and Feather pillows have a smaller pillow in the center that functions as a hard core that is surrounded by a 100% down fill. These pillows can work as a side sleeper if you do not have broad shoulders.

Try an Overstuffed pillow by Phoenix Down or a Pillowtex 95% Feather/5% Down

Polyester

Polyester has a wide range of fill types and designs, resulting in a pillow category that is the most diverse and functional with all sleep types.

Features to look for:

-Polyester can come in a wide range of firmness. A firmer pillow will be ideal for a side sleeping position.
– A pillow with a high loft, or thickness, will have the support that is required for sleeping on one’s side.

Try a Beyond Down Side Sleeper Pillow by Carpenter ® or Restful Nights ® UltraFlow polyester pillow – Featured at many Marriott ® Hotels

Memory Foam & Latex Pillows

Memory foam is effective at giving support while conforming to the sleepers head. A memory foam pillow that is thicker will always give the sleeper more support. Latex on the other hand is all support. These pillows maintain their shape and provide a solid surface that stays consistent over time. If you want a stiff pillow that will prop your head up, then this is your pillow.

Memory Foam features:

-Supportive and conforming.
-Look for thick pillows that will keep your head aligned with your back.

Try a Dough Memory Foam High Profile Pillow by Malouf ®

Latex features

Latex foam is a bit springy compared to memory foam, which allows it to hold it’s shape better and thus supports and aligns your neck,head,and shoulders.

Try a Latex International ® Classic High Profile Pillow

Let’s us know what your favorite side sleeper pillow is! We love your feedback!

Blog Author – Mike Swisher, Assistant Channel Manager