How To Choose The Right Weighted Blanket

October 16, 2024 Karen A. Mulvey

Weighted blankets are a great way to help with sleep, particularly for individuals with related issues such as depression, autism spectrum disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and ADHD. There is a lot of research out there about how weighted blankets can be beneficial for anyone.

Finding the right weighted blanket can be a difficult task. There are many options available to choose from, and each option has its own set of pros and cons.

Picking the right weighted blanket for you might sound like an overwhelming task, but it doesn't have to be. Consider a few questions before you buy. First, what is your budget? The cost of weighted blankets can vary greatly depending on the size and material they're made from.

Second, what type of sleeper are you? If you sleep on your stomach or back with very little tossing and turning then a heavier blanket might not be best for you as it may cause pressure points that will wake up more often than usual through the night. A lighter weight would be better in this case because it won't cause any discomfort while sleeping on your side or stomach.

Weighted blankets are the perfect way to relieve stress and anxiety. They can help with sleep disorders, PTSD, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder (SPD) among many other conditions. So if you are interested in getting a better night’s sleep, consider these tips as you begin shopping for your new bedtime companion!

Mind and Body Therapies For Menopause and Sleep

October 10, 2024 Rebekah Pierce

Mind and Body Therapies To Help With Menopause and Sleep

While sleep problems are unfortunately common for menopausal women—it doesn’t mean there aren’t solutions available that can help. While there is nothing you can do to prevent menopause from happening (and nothing you can do to flip a switch and magically get better sleep and reduce the feeling of being tired all the time). However, there are a few healthy, proven mind and body therapies that you can try which will not only help to improve your sleep, but your menopausal symptoms as well, so you can stay as healthy as possible during this important time in your life.

Can Drinking Water Improve Sleep? Benefits of Staying Hydrated at Night

October 1, 2024 Lisa Czachowski

We’re not going to tell you whether you should or should not drink water before bed. Science shows that there are pros and cons to drinking water before bedtime. If you find the habit relaxes you, and it doesn’t impact your sleep, go for it! However, we do suggest that you talk to your doctor about your sleep hygiene if you have any questions or concerns. Particularly if you find yourself waking at night to use the bathroom, it’s a good idea to chat with a physician to rule out health concerns and conditions. If you choose not to drink water before bed, you certainly have many tasty alternatives! Talk to your doctor, choose one you like and create a bedtime routine that works for you!

How to Get Quality Sleep When You Have COVID

September 19, 2024 Jessica Lauren

It’s not uncommon for most of us to experience sleep disturbances for a few days or weeks at a time. After all, not everybody can get a perfect eight hours each and every night of the week. Life gets in the way!

However, if you find that you have pervasive symptoms that last for several weeks or begin to interfere with your daily life, it might be time to seek professional help.

What are some signs that you are suffering from a serious sleep disorder? You might find that you are extremely tired during the day. Do you fall asleep or notice that your head is bobbing while you are driving or riding in a car? Are you falling asleep at work? Has your spouse noticed you snoring at night?

Top American Colleges For Sleep

September 18, 2024 Lisa Czachowski

If you’re still having trouble getting enough sleep and you’re lucky enough to be at one of these top American colleges for sleep, it might be time to consider making small tweaks to your sleep hygiene. For one, set a schedule that will allow you to get eight or more hours of sleep each night.

Who Needs More Sleep? Uncovering the Sleep Needs of Different Age Groups

September 10, 2024 Rebekah Pierce

Will the sleep debate over who needs the most sleep ever end? In a 2008 study by Brigham Women’s Hospital, people were given the chance to sleep for 16 hours a day for several days. The oldest adults - those aged 60 to 72 years old - slept for an average of seven and a half hours. The youngest - those aged 18 to 32 years old - slept nearly nine hours.

While you could easily interpret this as meaning younger people needing more sleep, there’s also the possibility that these individuals had the highest sleep debt (or that the body clocks or other medical conditions of the older adults were preventing them from sleeping more than they wanted to).

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what age you are or whether you are male or female - you’ve got to log your shut-eye! If you’re having trouble getting the rest you need, consider altering your sleep schedule to see if you can get even a few more minutes of sleep each night.

Scents That Help You Sleep: Relaxing Aromas for Better Rest and Relaxation

September 3, 2024 Lisa Czachowski

All of the scents mentioned above are not only safe to use, but they’re a viable alternative to commonly prescribed sleep aids. They’re easy to find and to use - all you have to do is pick up a bottle of the essential oils and use them in a diffuser. If you don’t want to go through the effort of using a diffuser, many can even just be sprayed on your pillow or sheets.

Some other options? Many of these scents can be used in your cooking or in teas. Some can be found in beauty products or extracts or even burned to help improve your sleep quality and reduce nighttime disruptions. You can even grow many of these, such as jasmine and lavender, as plants or dab the essential oils on your skin. Taking a bath with a few drops of essential oil or using fabric fresheners, candles, or air fresheners with these scents is another good way to expose your body to their sleep-restoring benefits.

Whichever you choose, make sure you do so. Scents really can make you sleepy - and can lead to a better night of sleep, too.

Why Millennials Are Always Tired

August 28, 2024 Rebekah Pierce

It’s not your fault if you can't sleep. There are many reasons why millennials find it difficult to get the rest they need, but there's no reason to stay awake and worry about it!

Instead, no matter what age you might be, consider following these tips for better sleep so that you can be rested and productive tomorrow.

All About Mattress Stores

August 22, 2024 Jessica Lauren

Finding the right mattress is very important. You want to find something that offers you with what you need to get the support and the comfort necessary to sleep through the night. There are so many great mattresses and mattress stores out there in today’s market—both online and at brick and mortar stores that will sell you the quality, comfortable mattress you have been looking for. Hopefully, this guide helps steer you in the right direction to finding a mattress that works for you.

Top Guest Bedroom Makeover Ideas

August 18, 2024 Lisa Czachowski

There are so many ways you can decorate your guest bedroom. The key to a good guest room is to make it as comfortable as possible. That means spending the extra money and investing in good sheets, furniture, and a mattress. You don’t want your guests to feel like they’re an afterthought after all!

If you haven’t given your guest room a makeover in a while, now is the time to look at it with fresh eyes. Maybe the style you have now feels outdated or maybe it just feels too cluttered. Of course, there’s always the possibility that it still looks and feels awesome! Either way, take a bit of time to check it out and see if there’s any changes you want to make that will fit within your budget. Remember, you don’t need to spend a ton to make the room feel fresh. Sometimes all it takes is rearranging some furniture or adding a fresh coat of paint.

Best 15 Sleep App Games to Help You Fall Asleep

August 14, 2024 Jessica Lauren

If you are looking for a new game or sleep app to help you get ready for bed—take a look at our list above. There are so many great programs out there that can be super helpful for anyone who needs to destress and unwind after a long day. Whether you prefer guided meditations, easy activities or stress-relieving games, there is an app on the list for everyone.

Is snoring ruining your sleep?

August 11, 2024 Lisa Czachowski

Make sure you’re keeping track of your sleep patterns so that you can take the most effective steps to stop your snoring for good. Keeping a sleep diary can help - your partner can help you complete it. If you sleep alone, you can even set up a camera to track your patterns. Whatever you do, know that you don’t have to suffer in (not so) silence. Snoring is a common issue - it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but it’s smart to seek a solution to your nightly problem.

How to Make The Transition From Crib To Toddler Beds

August 9, 2024 Karen A. Mulvey

The transition from a crib to a toddler bed or a toddler organic mattress is a big change for children. While it might seem impossible in the beginning to get them to stay in bed, ultimately they will learn to love the space. Just make sure that you stay consistent in your bedtime routine and making sure they stay in bed. A great way to introduce the idea of a big-kid bed is to read a few books on the topic to your child even before you make the move. That way, they’ll know what to expect and be more prepared.

It might seem like this transition will take forever, but soon they will be used to their new surroundings and eventually won’t even need you to put them to bed. Every child will get used to their new bed at different rates so don’t be frustrated if yours takes longer than a month. If they are very resistant to the bed, you might need to go back to the crib for a little bit. If that’s the case, don’t worry. Children mature quickly so they will probably request their big-kid bed in a couple of weeks.

Beyond The Thread Count – What To Look For When Buying Sheets

August 8, 2024 Lisa Czachowski

Headed out to buy some new bedding? If so, don’t let thread count be your only indicator of quality. While price, color, and other factors are likely to play a role in the purchase of new sheets, you should also consider the bedding buying guide above.

Be wary of sheets that seem to have excessively high thread count numbers. This can be indicative of false advertising. If you find a 1200 thread count sheet set, for instance, and it’s being sold for $100, then it likely is not the bargain that you think it is. Like everything else in life if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Thread count is far from the only variable that should make its way into your decision-making process. Consider a multitude of variables to find the perfect set of sheets - each and every time.

Can Lack Of Sleep Cause Eye Styes

August 8, 2024 Karen A. Mulvey

There’s no direct evidence connecting lack of sleep or even stress to eye styes. One does not directly link to the other. However, there is strong evidence that suggests that eye styes are more likely if you suffer from a lack of sleep.

Why? Stress and too-little sleep both impact your immunity. When the immune system isn’t working to the best of its ability , you are much more likely to develop an infection. A stye is an example of an infection, so it makes sense that styes would be more likely when you’re sleep-deprived.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can prevent and treat a stye at home. Although eye styes are definitely not any fun to deal with, they shouldn’t cause you any more stress or lack of sleep.

So get some shut-eye, take care of yourself, and relax - your eye stye will likely take care of itself with time!

Is Binge Watching Bad For Your Overall Health and Sleep?

August 8, 2024 Lisa Czachowski

Binge watching on xfinity stream or the best shows on Netflix might seem like a harmless activity, but it can lead to a host of short- and long-term health issues. There’s still research in the works when it comes to the long-term effects and causes of binge-watching, but it’s never a bad idea to limit your TV consumption. If you need help setting up healthy boundaries with your TV habits or just want to set up a better daily routine, it’s best to speak to a doctor or trained professional for advice as they can help you on your journey.

Best Hours To Sleep and Feel Recharged For The New Day

August 7, 2024 Rebekah Pierce

Lack of Sleep Can Slow Your Productivity At Home

If you are already trying to juggle a packed schedule and lack of sleep with all of your personal and professional obligations, it can be tough to find the right sleep schedule and best hours to sleep to meet your health needs. However, it’s important that you get enough sleep, even if it doesn’t fall into a standard schedule.

Need to be up and moving by 4 am each morning? Try to get to bed before 9 pm. That might mean cutting out a few hours of your favorite television shows, but it will be worth it when you don’t experience that mid-afternoon slump you’re used to feeling each day around 1 pm.

If you’re having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night - or if you find that you are experiencing daytime sleepiness despite getting to bed at a decent hour every night - you may want to chat with a doctor. You might have an underlying health condition that is causing your sleepiness.

Best Yoga Exercises For Better Sleep

August 7, 2024 Rebekah Pierce

If you spend a long day at your desk, on your commute, with your family, and taking care of other tasks, the last thing you want to do is go to bed sore and exhausted. Doing a bit of yoga exercises and yoga poses before bed will help relieve any tension or soreness in your body - and help you sleep better too.

Give it a bit of TLC at the end of the day. Once you start doing these yoga poses, you will likely find that you fall asleep faster and wake feeling more well-rested. A nighttime yoga routine could make a world of difference!

How To Decide If A Bunk Bed Is Right For Your Kids

August 7, 2024 Rebekah Pierce

The best tip for buying bunk beds - and deciding if they are right for your kids? Think of your long term plans for the bed. Is this a bed that you want to endure the test of time, or is it just a transition piece to get your child through elementary school? Choose a bunk bed that will allow you to adjust if, if necessary, and use it to help you meet your long term goals.

Buying a bunk bed is an exciting experience for many families - choose one that you and your child are sure to love, but make sure you both are ready for the transition first.

What Are The Best Times To Sleep and Wake Up

August 6, 2024 Jessica Lauren

Ultimately, the best time to sleep and wake up depends on you. If your work starts at 9 am and you need two hours to eat, get ready, and travel to work, then you’ll need to wake up at 7 am. From there, you can figure out what time you should go to bed based on your needs. Maybe you’re okay with less than 7 hours of sleep or maybe you need more. Everything is customizable based on your requirements. The hardest part is sticking to a consistent schedule and not straying from it. That means no more staying up until 2 am and sleeping in on the weekends.

While everyone’s sleep schedule will vary, if you are struggling to fall or stay asleep throughout the night, you should see your doctor. There may be an underlying cause such as sleep apnea or other health issues. If you are taking medication, you should check to see if the side effects include trouble sleeping and then ask your doctor if there’s another option.