Due to my position at Pacific Pillows, I am often required to take business trips and visit our new factories to check on the quality and quantity of our goods before shipment to the United States. Our factories are located in scattered regions throughout China. Some of these places include Guillin City, Hangzhou City, and Wenzhou City. Since I have to travel often I put together several practical tips for making a business trip as comfortable as possible. Continue reading “Practical Tips for Business Travel”
Interesting, Fun and Weird Non-Traditional Alarm
If you are anything like me, you are prone to setting an alarm and hitting snooze three to four times before actually waking up to get ready for the day. This is exceptionally true for those who sleep with a more traditional alarm clock that allows you to hit the snooze button as many times as you would like. For me, the toughest part of waking up is physically getting out of bed due to being so comfortable. Below is a list of non-traditional alarm clocks that require you to get out of bed and require some mental exercise to get you to wake up and start the day.
Weight Mat Alarm Clock– This is for the people who are awake mentally when the alarm clock goes off but would rather stay in their comfy oasis of blankets and softness. The Weight Mat Alarm clock is a rug that displays the time in the center of the rug and has a built in alarm clock. When the alarm sounds it forces you to get out of bed and step on the mat to turn it off.
Puzzle Alarm Clock– This particular Alarm requires using your mental capabilities that you lack after just waking up. When the alarm sounds the pieces of a puzzle go flying in the air, and you have to return the colored shapes to the correct places in order to shut it off. This will get you noodle engine running in time to start the day off.
Continue reading “Interesting, Fun and Weird Non-Traditional Alarm”
Why Sleep Is Important
Aside from fitness and healthy eating, sleep is just as important for optimal health. The quality and amount of sleep affects the quality of your waking life. This can range from your mood, energy, physical vitality and even your weight. It is amazing how many benefits come from so little effort!
There are many effects of sleep deprivation that can cause harm to your personal being and to others as well. Sleeping can cause drowsiness and fatigue and can slow your reaction time as much as driving drunk. According the National Highway Traffic safety Administration, fatigue is a cause of 100,000 auto crashes and 1,550 crash-related deaths a year in the U.S. Similarly, fatigue can cause poor judgment in most adults because sleep affects our interpretation of events. The inability to making sound judgments may cause someone who is tired or fatigued to make the decision to drive anyways.
Sleep Deprivation can also lead to Serious Health Problems which can include Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain. According to a 2004 study, people who sleep less than six hours a night were 30% more likely to become obese than those who slept for nine hours. According to WebMD, the peptide Ghrelin “stimulates hunger and leptin signals satieity to the brain and suppresses appetite. Shortened sleep time is associated with decreases in leptin and elevations in ghrelin.”
Many other negative effects can include reduced creativity and problem-solving skills, inability to cope with stress, reduced immunity, concentration, and moodiness and irritability. Most people may think that 6 hours of sleep may be enough, but this is just a myth. The following is the average sleep needs by age;
- New Born to 2 months old: 12-18 Hours
- 3 months to 2 year old: 14-15 hours
- 1 to 3 year olds: 12-14- hours
- 3 to 5 year olds: 11-13 hours
- 5 to 12 year olds: 10-11 hours
- 12 to 18 year olds:8.5-10 hours
- Adults (18+): 7.5-9 hours
Remember that sleep is one of the most important factors in living a healthy lifestyle. It is important to get enough hours of sleep as well as the quality of sleep. Constant noises, smoking and drinking, and constantly changing your sleeping pattern can affect the quality of your sleep as well. To maintain energy throughout the day, cope with stress, and maintain a healthy mind and body it is important to get plenty of sleep in a sound environment.
Blog Author: Jesse, Channel Manager, Pacific Pillows
Works Cited
Smith, Melinda, M.A., Lawrence Robinson. Helpguide.org. Harvard Health Publications, 2013. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
Peri, Camille, M.A. Webmd.com, 2012. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.