While buying the right pillow for you may seem like a simple task, there are some new terms you will discover while shopping around. Two terms you will likely come across when comparing pillows are plush and firm. Don’t panic. You don’t have to learn a new vocabulary just to buy the perfect pillow. The definitions are as simple as follows: Plush … [Read more...]
Magnesium: The Ultimate Sleep Boosting Mineral
‘Natural sleep-aid’ is probably not the first thing that you think of when you hear the word magnesium – but it should be! Magnesium plays a key role in your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Boosting your natural levels of magnesium can result in falling asleep faster, sleeping more deeply, and staying asleep longer.1 Magnesium is actually an enzyme that your body … [Read more...]
Headaches Hindering Your Sleep? How To Snooze When Migraines Strike!
Cluster headaches, tension headaches, migraines, sinus headaches – headaches come in all different shapes and sizes and can vary greatly. But they all have one thing in common…they’re always a real pain! Night-time headaches in particular can be the worst. You’ve made it through a long day and are finally ready to unwind and hit the sack when… All of a … [Read more...]
All Fired Up! How To Sleep Comfortably With Sunburn
A bad sunburn is one of the most uncomfortable feelings in the world. Worse than brushing against poison ivy. You spend all day lounging in the sun hoping for that perfect sun-kissed glow…but you end up looking like a crispy piece of bacon instead. It hurts to wear clothes, it hurts to sit down, it hurts to move. Doing just about anything comfortably with a bad sunburn can … [Read more...]
The Early Bird Gets… Everything! How To Wake Up Earlier (And Still Feel Refreshed)
I truly love the early morning. It’s the most peaceful and beautiful time of day. Early mornings hold so much promise; who knows what I might accomplish today or what possibilities the day might hold? Problem is – I’ve always despised the actual act of waking up early. Makes it kind of tough to enjoy those calm early morning moments when I can’t stop hitting the snooze … [Read more...]
Ache And Wake: Why Do You Wake Up With A Sore Neck? (And How To Treat It)
Waking up with pain or soreness in your neck is a real pain in the neck! Most would agree that mornings can be difficult enough-waking up earlier than you would like, rushing around to get to work, getting the kids to school on time, sitting in endless traffic. When you throw in excruciating neck pain or stiffness, it can really make your mornings miserable. We all know … [Read more...]
Oversleeping: Too Much Of A Good Thing?
For some of us, the notion of getting 8 or 9 hours of sleep at night is a mere fantasy. Between work, family, friends, fitness, LIFE… Who has time for 8-9 hours of sleep? If you somehow do manage to carve out the recommended 8 hours for sleeping every night, good for you! You’re making your health a priority by getting the ideal amount of sleep for the average adult. … [Read more...]
Nasty Smelling Morning Breath: How To Beat Bad Bed Breath
Ahhh, mornings. You roll over and find yourself inches from your partner’s face. You feel their hot breath on your skin as they whisper “Good morning”. You smile and begin to whisper back - but suddenly you stop. You pull back as you feel the grimy, stale situation that’s currently happening in your mouth. Instead, you offer them a tight-lipped smile as you try not to … [Read more...]
The Smelly Whisper In The Night: Sleep Farts (And How To Prevent Them)
You know that awful moment in the middle of the night when you’re startled awake by your own bed-rattling fart? It might have sounded like a long squeak, like air escaping from a balloon. Or it might have sounded like an under-the-covers thunderstorm, leaving you with ringing ears. If you share the bed with someone…you lay there perfectly still, heart … [Read more...]
How To Properly Fit Earplugs In your Ears For Sleeping (With Pictures)
Whether it’s blocking out a snoring partner, a car alarm or your neighbors party, earplugs can be the difference between dozing off and a sleepless night. But one of the most commonly made mistakes when using earplugs is inserting them incorrectly. A proper fitting earplug is essential to blocking out sound. And if your earplug doesn’t fit then you might as well not wear … [Read more...]
The Mysterious Case of Idiopathic Insomnia (And How To Deal With It)
Have you ever spent the night tossing and turning, simply unable to fall asleep? Or have you ever fallen asleep but then found yourself waking up every hour for no apparent reason? Perhaps you just can't improve your sleep efficiency score, no matter how hard you try. If you’ve dealt with either of these scenarios, you know just how infuriating it is to … [Read more...]
How Long Should Your Mattress Last? And How To Extend It’s Life
Can you remember the last time that you bought a new mattress? If you answered no, you aren’t alone. Replacing a worn-out mattress is one of the most overlooked and avoided purchases for homeowners. But why? Considering that we spend at least one-third of our lives sleeping and know that getting enough quality sleep significantly impacts our health and daily … [Read more...]
Why People Sleep With Their Eyes Open (And How To Do It Yourself)
My pet bulldog often sleeps with her eyes half open. The roof-rattling snores coming from her open mouth assure me that she is dreaming of T-bone steaks and chasing cats even though her eyes are clearly wide-open. While this always creeps me out a little bit, it never strikes me as too peculiar. But the other day, it did make me wonder… Can humans sleep with … [Read more...]
How To Cool Your Pillow To An Icy Temperature For Better Sleep
It can feel like you are sleeping on the surface of the sun. On a hot summer night your pillow is radiating enough heat to power a small town. And this fluffy furnace is right next to your cheek! How can you fall asleep when all you can think about is how hot your pillow is? The answer is quite simple. You can’t. As you are no doubt aware, a cold pillow makes it … [Read more...]
Sleeping Comfortably And Cleanly When Your Period Strikes
Sleeping comfortably with your period sounds like a bit of an oxymoron to me. We all know that there is NOTHING comfortable about having your period; whether you’re sleeping or awake. Between the painful cramps, raging hormones, and paralyzing fear of leakage, sleeping with your period can be a real nightmare. According a survey by the National Sleep … [Read more...]
The Mystery Of The Yellow Pillow: What Causes it?
To some their pillow looks yellow, to others brown. Whatever color you see, there is one thing we can all agree on - your pillow is no longer the crisp-white color that it was when you bought it. If your pillow case is white you may have noticed the exact same yellowing occurring here to, especially if you go too long without washing it. It doesn’t make … [Read more...]
Sleeping With Poison Ivy Itch: Remedies For Night-Time Irritation
Aaah.. Poison Ivy. No, scratch that - I mean OW! Poison Ivy! Spoiling camping trips and nature hikes since the dawn of Man. And sleep. There is nothing worse than trying to sleep while dealing with the itchiness that poison ivy brings. Growing up in the rural midwest, this tiny, three-leafed plant is one of the first things us kids were taught to look out for when … [Read more...]
Don’t Drown In The Drool Pool – How To Stop Drooling In Your Sleep
There is nothing worse than a slimy, sticky drool covered pillow being the very first thing your experience as your alarm violently jolts you awake. Even if you have never produced puddle-worthy amounts of drool, you have likely woken up with a damp pillow or a crusty saliva residue on your face, both equally unpleasant results of nighttime drooling. Saliva in … [Read more...]
Pillows Don’t Last Forever – The Right Time To Replace Your Pillow!
The average person keeps their pillow for over three years. By failing to replace your pillow at the appropriate time, your pillow will become a ticking time bomb. Health concerns including neck problems from lack of support, dust mite infestations and colonies of bacteria are some of the nasties that you can experience with an old pillow.1 The Three year average … [Read more...]
Shut Your Mouth! Why Mouth Breathing At Night Is Ruining Your Health (And How To Stop It)
Believe it or not, breathing may be the very thing responsible for your poor health. From bad breath and tooth problems to poor sleep and even a deformed jaw, mouth breathing is a seemingly harmless habit that can have severe implications on your health. In addition to the health problems, mouth breathing is just plain annoying. Laying in bed, listening to your partner … [Read more...]