Tag Archive for: improved sleep

White pillows on a Mattress Outlet mattress.

How Your Pillow Type is Impacting Your Sleep

What’s your pillow type? We talk a lot about how the quality of your mattress can affect your sleep, and why it’s important to find the right mattress for your sleep style. Both things are also true about your pillow type. Have you considered your own pillow at home and how it’s affecting your sleep?

In this article, we look at how your pillow type is impacting your sleep and help you with the next steps.

The Right Pillow Helps Support Your Spine

First, you want the right pillow for your sleep position. For example, a side sleeper will want a different type of pillow than a back or stomach sleeper.

Next, you want a pillow type that provides you with the right amount of support for your head, your neck, and your spine. Your pillow should support the natural curve of your neck. The wrong pillow can make your neck bend unnaturally, negatively affecting your sleep.

If your pillow is too firm or too soft for the way you sleep, you’ll compromise the quality of your sleep.

For example, if you sleep on your side, but your pillow is too soft, your head moves sideways to find a comfortable spot. For some people who sleep on their stomachs, their too-firm pillow causes them to sleep with their neck bent backward.

To get good quality sleep, look at different types of pillows. See which ones are labeled for the way you sleep: on your back, side, or tummy.

The Right Pillow Helps You Sleep Comfortably

Losing sleep is never the goal. Getting a good night’s rest is imperative to how you function during the day.

If you aren’t sleeping properly, your body doesn’t have time to repair itself. Your brain doesn’t unwind all the way either. So, you can see how important getting a solid dose of sleep can be to your regular daily functioning.

If you sleep on the right pillow type for you, you’ll avoid sleep deprivation. People who don’t get enough sleep may be in a bad mood, they may be impatient and quick to anger. In addition, their reflexes are slow, they aren’t thinking at the top of their game, and they may eat more than they should.

What’s more, chronic sleep deprivation can lead to a wide variety of issues including diabetes, heart disease, and low productivity.

This is just another way your pillow is impacting your sleep, and why it’s good to buy the right one for you.

How to Find the Right Pillow

Do you know the right pillow type for you?

It’s important to know that the pillow type for you may not be the pillow type that works for your partner. So, it’s not a good idea to simply go out and buy two of the same pillows. It’s a personal preference unique to you.

Here are some of the most common different types of pillows you may look at:

  • Memory foam pillow: like a memory foam mattress, this type of pillow conforms to you and is supportive. In addition, it contours to your head and neck and cradles you.
  • Down pillow: this is a luxurious, soft pillow. You’ll find that you can move it around and position it how you like. These pillows aren’t as supportive as memory foam. Do consider the down fill, though. The higher the fill, the better the pillow.
  • Feather pillows: these are more affordable than down, but they aren’t nearly as soft.
  • Down alternative: this is an option for people who love down but are allergic to it. Again, it’s not as nice as down, but it is a good option for some.

The goal is to keep your spine in a neutral, straight position. When it comes to pillow types, also consider the following:

  • Back and stomach sleepers want to find a thin, soft pillow.
  • Side sleepers need a firm pillow.

Final Thoughts

Are you one of the many people who logs the “right amount” of hours each night, but you have trouble getting out of bed every day? Are you always tired even though you’ve “slept for eight hours?”

It could be that your pillow is causing you problems. In addition, if you have a sore neck, or your shoulders are tight, it might be your pillow.

Do you know anyone who won’t leave home without their pillow? They take it to hotels and on long road trips. They might tell you it’s the only way they’ll get a good night’s rest. Well, it turns out they are right!

When combined with the right mattress, your pillow type can impact your sleep. There are many pillow types, and there are benefits of different types of pillows. Do your research and find the best pillow for you.

Photo by Jude Infantini on Unsplash

Memory foam mattress in a cozy dark painted room for good sleep

Memory Foam: What is it And Why Should You Care?

Sleep is elusive, you wake up in pain each morning, and now you’re in the market for a new mattress. As you start your search, all you hear about is memory foam.

If you aren’t familiar with memory foam, you may wonder what it is, and ask yourself why you should care.

For starters, these mattresses have taken the world by storm and become one of the most popular mattresses on the market today.

In this article, we break it down so you can decide if it’s right for you.

What is Memory Foam?

Before memory foam was used in mattresses, NASA used it in the 1960s for seats and seat belts. After NASA, others realized that memory foam is very soft and cushioning. It found its place in helmets, shoes, and even prosthetics.

After this, memory foam experienced its own liftoff in the mattress category. Why? It’s because of its incredible ability to mold to your body in response to your body heat and pressure. It helps to evenly distribute your weight.

When you lay on a memory foam mattress, the heat of your body softens the mattress. This ultimately helps support the natural curvature of your spine. Many people find they not only sleep better but also wake up with less pain.

Because of its amazing properties, memory foam impacts sleep in many beneficial ways.

Memory Foam Molds to Your Body

The biggest reason you should care about memory foam is that it slowly molds to your body, helping to evenly distribute your body weight. You’ll find that it responds to each person differently.

People who sleep on memory foam really appreciate how it cradles them, contouring to their body, and reduces pressure points.

Another interesting fact about memory foam is that as you move, it slowly returns to its original shape. This means it helps cushion you as you move throughout the night. Because it moves slowly, sleepers don’t notice a big change.

What Does Sleeping on It Feel Like?

Depending on the brand of your memory foam mattress, you’ll find each of these qualities to varying degrees.

First, memory foam is contouring. As you lay down on your mattress, it contours to your body. It recognizes your curves as your body heat and pressure build.

The next thing you’ll notice is that you sink into the mattress, but not in a way that makes you feel like you can’t ever get up. A memory foam mattress embraces your body in a gentle way so that you feel cradled and supported.

Finally, you’ll notice that as the heat of your body sinks into the mattress, it becomes softer and adds to the feeling of being supported.

Benefits of Memory Foam

Many people love the adaptive feel of memory foam.

Here are a few more reasons why people love this type of mattress:

  1. You benefit from pressure relief. A memory foam mattress can relieve pressure on your hips, shoulders, and neck, especially if you are a side sleeper. If you have pressure points in these areas, you may have trouble sleeping or walking once you get up. This type of mattress can also help if you have joint pain and arthritis.
  2. Your spine is in better alignment. A memory foam mattress provides you not only with lumbar support, but it helps align your spine while you sleep. You’ll find it easier to get comfortable because your spine stays in a neutral position. This helps alleviate back pain.
  3. Memory foam mattresses are also hypoallergenic because these dense mattresses don’t attract as many dust mites and other allergens.
  4. You sleep better if you are sleeping with a partner. This is because memory foam mattresses cover the movement of co-sleepers.

Picking the Right Firmness Level

Now that you know why you should care about memory foam mattresses, let’s look at what to consider when making your purchase.

The first thing to think about when purchasing any mattress is its firmness. For example, do you want a soft, medium, or firm mattress?

Every mattress comes with a firmness rating, so be sure and ask when purchasing. Lay on several different firmness levels to see which one is right for you. Don’t forget to consider your sleep position as this really dictates which firmness level you choose.

Final Thoughts

A memory foam mattress is a good choice for many people. Not only will they sleep better, but they might find the mattress lasts a long time. According to the Sleep Foundation, memory foam mattresses tend to have a slightly longer lifespan than traditional innerspring mattresses.

Now that you know why you should care, we invite you to shop Mattress Outlet in-store or online for the best memory foam mattresses that impact your sleep in beneficial ways.

Photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash

7 Benefits of a Good Mattress

6 Benefits of a Good Mattress

You need a good mattress. Why? You know how bad you feel after a terrible night’s sleep. It’s hard to concentrate the next day. All you want to do is take a nap. Your back may hurt.

Simply put, sleeping on the wrong mattress can be detrimental to your health. That’s why in this article, we’re going to look at the six benefits of a good mattress.

We’ll look at how much better you’ll feel both mentally and physically once you have a proper mattress.

#1: You May Have Less Allergies

Old mattresses harbor dust, sweat, dust mites, and other allergens. For many people, this causes annoying allergies. In addition, these allergies can make it hard to sleep while also harming your health. What’s more, if you have asthma, your old mattress really might be making you sick.

Just thinking about what might be living in your old mattress sends many people shopping for a good mattress. The benefit of a new mattress is that you don’t have allergy issues. We recommend changing your mattress at least every eight years.

#2: Your Mental Health May Improve

When you have a bad mattress, you don’t sleep well. Sleepless nights make people short tempered and grumpy. If this sounds like you, it might be time for a new bed.

Losing sleep really hampers mental and emotional health, and you might even suffer sleepiness, grogginess, mood swings, irritability, poor cognitive performance, and low functioning days.

You might be surprised at how helpful the right mattress can be. You are more likely to sleep soundly. This in turn means you are less likely to have mental health issues brought on by a lack of sleep.

#3: Your Aches and Pains May Go Away

For many people, the biggest benefit of a new mattress is that your aches and pains go away.

The right mattress helps keep your spine in proper alignment. This also helps improve your posture. By sleeping on a better bed every night, you may find that your sore back, neck, and shoulders improve greatly.

Choosing the right mattress for your sleep style is important for you to reap this benefit. Make sure to let your salesperson know if you are a side sleeper, back sleeper, tummy sleeper, or a combination.

#4: You May Be Less Tired

If you are uncomfortable each night, tossing and turning, your sleep is disturbed, and you wake up tired, a good mattress may help.

If you don’t sleep well, or your sleep partner complains that you’re keeping them up all night, you really may benefit from a better mattress.

#5: You May Snore Less

If you snore, a good mattress can help alleviate snoring problems because it keeps your body and your head well supported while you sleep.

For those who have a saggy mattress, you’ll find your head isn’t supported well, and your spine isn’t aligned. With a good mattress, you can greatly improve your snoring issues because your body is properly supported.

#6: You May Lose Weight

Did you know that the amount of sleep you get as well as the quality of that sleep can impact your weight?

When people are overtired from a poor night’s sleep, they may cut back on regular exercise. They may also forgo cooking because they don’t have the energy.

What’s more, when you’re tired, your body starts to crave high fat and high calorie meals. You may snack more, and you may notice your weight creeping up. Get a good mattress, and this may improve.

Final Thoughts on a Good Mattress

You can definitely improve the quality of your sleep by improving the surface that you sleep on. Finding the right mattress can help change your overall mental and physical health.

You’ll feel better every day. You will be less irritable and have more energy.

What exactly makes a good mattress? A good mattress is one that is comfortable to the person sleeping on it, helps the sleeper have proper spinal alignment, and doesn’t leave the sleeper achy and tired in the morning.

For most people, a medium firm mattress is their good mattress. For some people a softer or firmer mattress can work, too.

Memory foam mattresses are some of the most comfortable on the market, while many people find great comfort in traditional innerspring mattresses as well as hybrid mattresses.

Now that you know about the six benefits of a good mattress, you can see how a good mattress is something worth investing in.

Looking for a great mattress at a great price? Mattress Outlet is here for you and the place where you’ll find a comfortable mattress at a comfortable price.

Photo by Zohre Nemati on Unsplash