Category: Sleep Products

Posted on

How to start a simple sleep routine for adults.

When I think of a sleep routine, I think of babies. Little humans thrive on sleep routines. At what point did we assume adults don’t need a sleep routine too? The science is there, adults definitely need a sleep routine to ensure they get the best sleep possible. 

If you are anything like me, figuring out a new healthy routine can feel overwhelming. The thing about a sleep routine is it doesn’t need to be fancy. You don’t need lots of new products or gimmicky gadgets. Here are a few easy sleep routine steps that anyone can do right away.

  • Take a warm shower an hour before bedtime. You don’t have to wash your hair, just get a shower cap and soak in all that warm water. “Your circadian rhythm, which is your sleep-wake cycle, is guided by your body temperature and light,” says sleep specialist Whitney Roban, PhD. “You want your body temperature to decrease in order for melatonin to increase. When you get out of a hot shower, your body temperature is going to drop, and the production of your melatonin is going to increase. And that will help you feel sleepy.” 
  • Keep the lights dim! Avoiding bright light before bedtime will help you maintain a healthy sleep cycle.
  • Keep your bedroom a sleep only zone, well except for that other thing you can do in the bedroom. You want your bedroom to be a sleeping only zone. Don’t work, eat, or watch shows/movies in bed. When you create this sleeping only boundary, your brain will notice and know when it is time to sleep. 
  • Leave the phone/computer out of the bed! Your eyes need a break away from that nasty blue light. The Blue light loves to interrupt your natural sleep cycle. Read a book instead or do some 4-7-8 breathing exercises to help wind down.

When you start your new sleep routine, just remember to create a space that is calming and consistent. Let me know what is in your sleep routine in the comment section!

If you are concerned about the lack of sleep you are getting, talk to a doctor. It can be dangerous to not get the sleep your mind and body need.

SWEET DREAMS!

Dana Fry

The Bedding Expert

Posted on

Sleeping with a stuffy nose

It is officially the worst season of all! No, not Holiday season! Even though Holiday’s can be a pain in the butt. I am talking about cold and flu season! Those dreaded invisible germs that sneak into your body and wreak havoc. The reason I am even bringing this up is because I just had the worst stuffy nose and I couldn’t sleep! Nothing is worse than being so tired yet you feel like you can’t breathe. So, being the millennial that I am I jumped on my phone and asked good old Google what helps you sleep with a stuffy nose. My mom was already asleep so I couldn’t ask her. DUH!

I did find some good tips if you are trying to sleep with a stuffy nose and I thought I would share a few with you.

1 . Skip the night cap! I know what you are thinking! A nice drink before bed might help me fall asleep and not feel the suffering of my stuffy nose! Well that alcohol can actually make your stuffy nose worse and even aggravate sinus pain. So, skip the wine and have a nice decaf hot tea. Perhaps a valerian tea or decaf green tea.

2. Keep those little nasal passages nice and moist. I know we all hate that word but get over it for a second and listen! When you keep your nose hydrated it makes blowing and breathing easier. Try using a over the counter saline solution to help keep your cute little button nose moist. Dry air is the enemy when trying to fight a stuffy nose. Use a humidifier to keep dry air away. I also like to use my essential oil defuser by my bed and use peppermint oil with lavender. Peppermint essential oil will help clear your nasal passages and the lavender will help you relax and sleep.

3. If you are anything like me and you hate taking medication you may jump to “natural” remedies first but if those don’t work try some gold old fashion medication. If you are sick try taking a decongestant but if you think your stuffiness is from allergies try taking a antihistamine.

4. Keep you head elevated. Prop your upper body up with lots of pillows (need more pillows to do this? Try shopping at Pillows.com. I hear they have a good selection) Keeping your head above your heart will help decrease mucus from pooling in your nose. EW

5. Know when to call the doctor. If you have sever congestion and sinus pain that just wont stop it may be a sinus infections that would require treatment. Sometimes toughing it out and waiting till it passes is a good idea but sometimes it is time to call the doctor and get checked out. Don’t let a sinus infection go on too long without treatment nasty thing cans happen. Don’t believe me? Google it.

Ok, last pro tip! If one nostril is stuffed but the other is clear just jam some tissue in the stuffy side and pass out! Have you ever done this or am I the only one?

Sweet dreams Pillows fans and stay healthy!

Posted on

Pillow Expert Tips on Fluffing Down and Feather Pillows

Whether your down and feather pillow is brand new or a pillow you have
loved for years, the thing they both have in common is they must be
fluffed. Did you know there is actually some tips and tricks you MUST
know to get the best support out of your down and feather pillow?
There is! Let’s start at the beginning.

Brand new down and feather pillow

When you buy your new down and feather pillow from Pillows.com, it
will arrive compressed. Most the air has been removed from inside the
pillow and the down and feathers have now fallen flat. Don’t let this
scare you. All this new pillow needs is some good fluffing.

Step 1 – Take the pillow out of the packaging. Start pushing some air
into the pillow by grabbing the fabric on each side of the pillow and
fan them in and out like a bellow. This will push strong blasts of air
inside the pillow and give those down and feathers some life. This
first fluffing may take some extra time since you need to push a lot
of air into it. After you do this step for a few minutes, you should
notice a big difference in the pillows loft. If you got a larger
pillow size like a queen or king, follow these steps and then place
your pillow in the dryer on low or no heat and run the cycle for 20
minutes.

Pillow in Pillows.com packaging


Step 2 – PILLOW PROTECTORS are down and feather pillows’ best friend.
These perfectly tight fitting cotton cases will insure your pillow
doesn’t fall flat. You use these with a normal pillowcase. Place your
pillow inside the pillow protector and then put your pillowcase over
that. Not only will your pillow have better support but it will help
protect your down and feather pillow and help it last longer.

Down and Feather (Pillowtex 75/25) fluffed and in Pillowtex Pillow Protector. Links down below in blog.

Getting your lofty full pillow inside a pillow protector and pillowcase can sometimes be hard. I learned a new trick to make it easier! Look! 

Step 1. Fold pillow in half and grab the corners. Place pillow in protector and then let go!

Step 2. Zip up protector

Step 3. Repeat step 1 and place pillow in pillowcase next.

Daily fluffing steps

Step 1 – While your pillow is inside the pillow protector and
pillowcase, do a few quick “bellow” fluffing movements. Grab the
fabric on each side of the pillow and fan them in and out to give some
strong blasts of air into the pillow. Rotate pillow and do again.
Shake the pillow up a little to get the filling to move around. We
want those down and feathers to not stick to each other.

Step 2  – Grab the top of the fabric of the opening of the pillowcase
and do a shake down motion. This will help the pillow to settle down
deep into the pillowcase and give us extra fabric to do the “hotel
pillowcase fold”

Shake down the pillow to the bottom and pull up any extra pillowcase fabric to the top

 

Step 3 – This hotel housekeeping trick really makes a difference! Once
you have that extra fabric pulled up, lay your pillow down and tuck in one side and fold in the other on top of that. Straighten out the edges and that’s it! Voila! A perfectly fluffed and folded down and feather pillow that will support you all night long. Once you get used
to doing this, it should take about a minute to complete and will
truly make your pillow that much better!

Tuck in the top part first

Fold in the bottom part of the pillowcase into the pillow

Smooth out the edges and make a clean crease

Beautiful lofty pillow fit for a five-start hotel.

 

*** products used in photos are the Pillowtex 75/25 in Standard Size – https://www.pillows.com/pidoandfepi.html   and the Pillowtex Pillow Protector – https://www.pillows.com/pillowtex-protectors.html