Better sleep, for a better you

No wonder Sleeping Beauty looked so good … she took long naps, never got old, and didn’t have to do anything but snore to get her Prince Charming. – Olive Green

The above quote is a bit tongue-in-cheek; however, at the core of this humorous message is a fundamental truth.

Quality sleep can lead to a better life.

There is no doubt about it. Consider how you feel after tossing and turning all night. And everyone has those nights. Your mind will not shut down, and your thoughts, worries, and commitments run through your brain like a Formula 1 race car.

The day’s troubles replay for you like a slow-motion movie. You ponder things you said and what others said to you. You think about the next day and the challenges you will likely face.

Why is it so hard to get a solid eight hours of sleep?

Fortunately, as we have become more aware of the importance of sleep and the impact that it has on our quality of life, it has become more extensively studied by science and sleep experts. There has been a constant and ongoing pursuit of how to achieve the utmost quality of sleep, and this has inspired companies that are solely dedicated to creating the best tools to support that purpose.

First, let’s look at why sleep is so important, how to get the best quality sleep, and then how you can make your night more comfortable and rejuvenating.

Why does quality sleep matter?

Your quality of life while you are awake depends largely on your quality of sleep. This, of course, is apparent to anyone not getting enough sleep. While you sleep, your body is working to restore and refresh the many processes within itself.

A good night’s sleep supports healthy brain function and is vital to maintaining physical health. An extended period of poor-quality rest can raise your risk for chronic health problems. It can also affect how you work, learn, think, and get along with others.

Here is some helpful information on the importance of sleep and how it affects your body’s systems and processes.

Your heart and circulatory system:

When you fall asleep, your blood pressure and heart rate fall; while sleeping, something called the parasympathetic system controls your body (almost like an auto-pilot), and your heart does not work as hard as when you are awake. Those who do not sleep enough or wake often during the night may have an increased risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and stroke.

Your metabolism:

Your body handles fat in various ways according to different circadian clocks. This includes those in the liver and muscles. The circadian clock makes sure that your liver is prepared to digest fats at the appropriate time. This is optimized by regularly getting quality sleep. Studies have shown that not getting enough sleep can lead to the following:

• Higher levels of hormones that control hunger
• Decreased insulin response
• Increased consumption of fatty, sweet, and salty food.
• Decreased physical activity

All these issues can lead to increased weight and obesity.

Respiratory and immune issues:

Those with respiratory problems such as asthma and COPD can become aggravated by a continual disruption in sleep. It has also been found that a specific type of immune cell works harder while you sleep. This could be why those with regularly disrupted sleep patterns may be more likely to get colds and infections.

Your thinking and memory:

Sleeping helps you with learning and the formation of long-term memories. If you are not getting enough quality sleep, you can have trouble thinking clearly or focusing on tasks. Think about the last terrible night’s sleep you had … how was the next day? Was your focus, memory, or productivity the same as when you got a restful night’s sleep?

There is no doubt about the need for good sleep and how it ties into your physical and mental well-being. You might say,” Yeah, I need good sleep, but it’s easier said than done.” And that’s true. However, a few tips and techniques have proven to help people fall asleep and stay asleep.

Getting your sleep right.

Now that we are more aware and well versed in the negative effects of poor sleep, let’s dig into some research-backed tips to help you get a better night’s rest.  

Handling your stress levels:

When you are stressed, it impacts your sleep quality, and your brain gets less rest. Anything that you do which helps you deal with and acknowledge the stress you are experiencing will improve your sleep. There are many ways to do this, and no one way is suitable for everyone. They include exercise, deep breathing, meditation, and focusing on what you can control. Sometimes just distracting yourself with a fun activity is enough. There are multiple ways to handle stress, but it should be a priority.

Get on a schedule.

For your emotional well-being, it’s been shown that the amount of sleep you get is less important than the consistency of it. Try as much as possible to go to bed at the same time every night, and wake at the same time every morning. It doesn’t have to be super strict; just try to make it more intentional. A continued and planned schedule can have a powerful effect on your brain’s internal clock – or circadian rhythm. This helps the sleep you get to be more restful and restorative.

The light and dark of it.

Light signals have a significant impact on your circadian rhythms. If you are around bright light during the day and dim light at night, it can help you feel more alert in the morning and fall asleep easier at night. The reason for this is the release of a hormone called cortisol in the morning to help you feel energized and the release of melatonin at night to help you fall asleep.

 Your circadian rhythm controls these hormonal releases, so having the right light at the right time makes a significant impact. Try to be near a bright window during the day. And get outside a couple of times during the day, if only for a few minutes. Then a few hours before bed, make sure to dim the lights and quit staring at your phone’s bright screen.

Get some exercise

This doesn’t have to be a full-intensity workout. Try doing a few push-ups, stretching, and maybe jumping jacks upon waking. Go for a morning walk and set a reasonable step count for the day. What you do to keep moving is less important than simply moving.

The act of exercising helps boost the neurotransmitter serotonin and will improve sleep quality. And as noted earlier, exercise helps to reduce stress and increases the number of dopamine receptors. A word of caution, though – don’t exercise right before bed. The two hours before bed should be reserved for more calming activities.

So, there are four scientifically backed ways to help improve the quality of your sleep. But what about your comfort? That should also be part of the equation.

What you sleep on matters.

Let’s say you follow the suggestions above, get a schedule going, control the type of light you are around, understand your stress levels, and begin an exercise routine. Things may seem to be going well but stop and think about the comfort of what you are lying on at night.

How many mattresses have you gone through, and again, how many pillows have you been through? It is tough to fall into a deep sleep if you are uncomfortable. And this is a problem for many people, even with a proper routine.

Let’s face it; if you are not correctly aligned and relaxed while sleeping, you will toss and turn throughout the night. Your body will continually search for the correct position for maximum comfort.

And your restful night’s sleep suffers for it.

Identifying the problem is only the first step. After that, the focus must shift to finding the best solution. There is a family business that was brought to life because of a particular devotion to solving the issues of alignment, comfort, and support for every sleeper.

Coming from a lengthy background in the sleep industry, and extensive experience selling mattresses and pillows in their own traditional brick-and-mortar stores, this family felt well equipped to address the major contributors of poor sleep and create products that would resolve them.

During their time working in the industry, they had access to all the pillows available on the market. However, the owners quickly noticed that not only were their customers dissatisfied with the options, but they themselves could not find anything to meet their own needs. This inspired them to set out on a journey that would lead to years of research, trial, and error. The result was the development of a unique pillow with a revolutionary shape and fill, that soon became well known and sought after for the ultimate support and luxurious comfort it was able to deliver.

There are so many design elements that set this pillow in a class above its competitors. The proprietary fill is comprised of the perfect blend of components to deliver an entirely unique feel that they could only find one word to describe – Scrumptious! Once the pillow began to find its way into people’s hands, the positive response was overwhelming and exceptionally rewarding.

Honeydew Sleep was founded in 2017, as the owners found that their passion project of developing premium quality pillows for themselves, their friends, and their family, had led them to creating something very special, and had somehow turned into a blossoming business.

The family-owned enterprise quickly discovered that the only way to maintain their impossibly high standards was to build their own very own factory in Southern California. This way, the experts at Honeydew Sleep could personally oversee the quality of the pillows they manufacture and personally handle all customer service themselves.

Just in time for gift-giving for yourself or someone else, Honeydew Sleep is proud to pass along a special offer on their most popular pillow.

Scrumptious Side Pillow

The ultimate combination of comfort and support, giving you proper alignment and pain-free sleep.

After years of development, this pillow finally came to market. And it caused quite the sensation right out of the gate.

Every aspect of this pillow was deliberately designed to deliver superior support and unparalleled comfort, resulting in a product that not only improves your quality of sleep, but in doing so greatly improves your quality of life. Imagine waking up pain free, refreshed and invigorated, ready to make the most of every day.

And after learning all of this, if you had any concerns about whether this pillow would be the right fit for you, you can rest easy knowing that it is fully adjustable to support your particular body and meet your specific support and comfort needs. Every Honeydew pillow has a hidden zipper, where the fill can either be added or removed to customize and personalize the feel depending on each sleeper’s particular preferences. This way your pillow can be every bit as unique as you are. The company proudly offers free fill for the life of your pillow, so you can always find your way to the perfect level of comfort.

People cannot seem to stop saying good things about the Scrumptious Side Pillow –

I have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars trying to find the right pillow. I wish I would have tried this one first. I love the cutout for side sleeping. My neck rests comfortably on the follow while my shoulder rests inside the cutout. Highly recommend! – Lyndi M.

Lyndi’s review is one of the hundreds of positive reviews for this fantastic product.

Honeydew Sleep is confident that you will love your new pillow. They offer a 60-night unconditional money-back guarantee.

If this isn’t the best pillow you have ever slept on, return it at no cost.

Take control of your day by getting a restful, pain-free night’s sleep. See what sleeping on the right pillow could do for you.

* In partnership with our friends at Honeydew Sleep* Photo courtesy of Honeydew Sleep
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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