Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Snooze Director
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Due to the enormous amount of requests from individuals requesting our support, Sleepy’s is in the process of attempting to partner with the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to donate much-needed relief supplies to areas affected by the recent weather disasters.

If you are a person who has been affected by the recent inclement weather in the northeast and are requesting donations, we would ask that you contact these agencies to see what the best and most efficient way to get relief is. Their contact information is as follows:

American Red Cross: 1-800–HELP–NOW (1-800-495-7669), or visit their website at http://www.redcross.org/

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362), or visit their website at http://www.fema.gov/

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Is Your Sleep Being Affected by a Sleep Disorder or Your Mattress?

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Snooze Director
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Why Can’t I Sleep—Haven’t I Tried Everything?!

While some sleep problems may be the result of serious sleep disorders, a sleep survey conducted by Arc Consulting for the Better Sleep Council concluded that sometimes all you need to do to get a good night’s rest is to replace your old mattress.

The majority of people in the study agreed that a bad mattress could mean back problems, poorer quality sleep and overall decline in health and wellness. But among these 400 adults, almost half of them (46 percent) said that they didn’t replace their mattresses until their old ones were in “bad” or “very bad” shape. In fact, those surveyed were 5 times more likely to blame their poor sleep quality on daytime stress than their substandard mattresses.

Andrea Herman, Director of the Better Sleep Council, said in general people took a quite impractical approach to diagnosing the root of their sleep problems. While theoretically they understood that replacing their mattresses could fix the issue, they often overlooked this simple connection between sleep and mattress quality when finding a solution became necessary.

The study confirmed this wide disconnect between knowledge and behavior. Respondent said that during normal daily life, they rarely thought of their mattresses. There didn’t seem to be a need to do so unless you noticed a specific problem with the mattress. People were much more likely to attribute problems to aspects of their lives that seemed more relevant, or more pressing, like stress at work and among family and friends.

How do I Decide When to Replace My Mattress?

Andrea Herman said that people who find that they toss and turn at night for no apparent reason should consider the condition of their mattresses. While stress may sometimes be an inevitable hindrance to even the best snoozers’ quality of sleep, getting a new mattress is a quick and easy fix.

Researchers suggested that people perform a formal “Rest Test” two times every year in order to evaluate the condition of their mattresses. Go to a home department or specialty mattress store and weigh how those new mattresses feel as compared to the one you use at home. When shopping for a mattress, keep these criteria in mind:

  1. Adequate Support
  2. Long-Term Comfort
  3. Sufficient Space
  4. Durability / Warranty
  5. Accompanying Bed Foundations
  6. Overall Value

Remember, a mattress is a big purchase that you will use every night. It’s important to make the right decision. Take your shoes off, get under the sheets, bring along your bed partner, etc. — the store employees won’t mind. How else will you know what it’ll feel like?

 

Contributor: Alex Smith of SleepDisorders.com

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Sleepys on The Dr. Steve Show

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Snooze Director
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I had such a fun time working with “The Dr. Steve Show,” on a segment that was all about sleep!  I love getting together with people to talk about all things sleep, especially since it’s a topic that affects each and every one of us.  I brought my friend, Dr. Robert Oexman of the Sleep to Live Institute, along with me for the show.  I’m letting my sleep geek-ness show a little bit, but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to two doctors discuss sleep topics and how to find the perfect mattress.  In case you missed the segment from “The Dr. Steve Show,” which airs nationally, here is the clip:

I’d like to thank my friends at “The Dr. Steve Show,” and WPIX who reached out to me and made this opportunity possible!

 

Contributor: Emily Barrett, Snooze Director

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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Snooze Director
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Mother’s Day is Sunday May 13th and if you’re looking for a unique gift idea, why not give Mom the gift of quality sleep?  I think we can all agree that moms are hard workers and that they deserve a great night’s sleep.  There is such a thing as beauty sleep!  No need to raid the cosmetic aisle for your mother’s day gift when you can get her a sleep related item that will aide quality sleep.  A study found that people who were sleep-deprived were perceived as less healthy, attractive and more tired than those who got a great night’s rest.

A mattress is the first gift idea that comes to mind since the mattress your mother sleeps on directly affects her waking life.  If she has been complaining about aches and pains or just not being able to get comfortable at night, she may be in need of a new mattress.  But a new mattress can be an expensive gift so here are a few more affordable sleep related Mother’s Day gift ides:

Pillows can be just as important as a mattress when it comes to quality sleep.  All too often people will buy a pillow out of preference as opposed to what their body needs.  Your pillow should fit your preferred sleeping position.  For example I know I like thin, flat pillows, but I’m primarily a side sleeper, so I’m actually doing my body a disservice by using the improper pillow while I sleep.  Side sleepers need a full but soft pillow; while back sleepers need a medium thickness pillow and stomach sleepers need the thinnest pillow (if any at all).  Find out what position your Mom prefers to sleep in and then find a pillow that suits her sleeping position.  Sleepys.com organizes their selection of pillows by what position they are best for.

Eye masks, white noise machines and lavender scented products are all apart of sleep hygiene.  It is easier to fall asleep when our bodies are relaxed and our sleep environment is conducive to sleep.  Lavender is used in aromatherapy as a way to relax the body and ease a person into sleep.  Having a dark, cool room is optimal for sleeping conditions, but sometimes it is hard to get a room truly dark enough.  You can try room darkening shades to block out excess lights from outdoors, but an eye mask is also a great way to get the same effects without trying to remember what color your mother’s bedroom is.  If you notice that your mom complains out noises keeping her up at night or preventing her from falling asleep, a white noise machine is a great Mother’s Day gift!  A white noise machine will drown out all the other noises that keep her awake with an even, monotonous sound that basically bores a person to sleep.

The gift of sleep is a great way to show your mom that you appreciate all she does.  From kissing boo-boos, to leaving work early to watch one of your games and just always supporting you in every way possible no matter where you are in life, this Mother’s Day, give your Mom the gift she really wants, a great night’s sleep.

 

Contributor: Emily Barrett

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The NEW TEMPUR-Simplicity at Sleepy’s

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Snooze Director
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Tempur-pedic is one of the most recognized mattress brands in the world.  Known as the mattress made for astronauts in NASA, the Tempur-pedic mattresses are made of body conforming memory foam that will ease your body into a state of relaxation and quality sleep.  Up until now, Tempur-pedic has only offered high end, luxury lines that can cost thousands of dollars.  For the first time ever, Tempur-pedic is offering their legendary mattresses in a more affordable price range with the TEMPUR-Simplicity line.

The TEMPUR-Simplicity line offers comfort and support for more budgets.  Along with attractive financing, the starting price for the TEMPUR-Simplicity line is just $699!  This more affordable line of Tempur-pedic mattresses come in three different (and clearly labeled) ranges of comfort, soft, medium and firm.

Get all the benefits of a classic Tempur-pedic mattress, from reduced motion transfer to pressure point relief; you can have it all for a much more reasonable price.  The TEMPUR-Simplicity comes with a 10 year warranty and a 90-Night trial.  All of our Sleepy’s showrooms have the TEMPUR-Simplicity line as well as the AlluraBed, the RhapsodyBed, the TEMPUR-Cloud line and the TEMPUR-Contour line.  While you’re testing out a Tempur-pedic mattress at Sleepy’s, don’t forget to try the Ergo Adjustable Bases that offer customizable comfort and take your Tempur-pedic sleeping experience beyond your dreams.  Make sure to visit your local Sleepy’s showroom to experience the elite comfort of the many Tempur-pedic lines that we have to offer.

 

Contributor: Emily Barrett

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Is it Time for a New Mattress?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Snooze Director
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A mattress is a long-term purchase, so it’s easy to forget the basics such as the warning signs that you may need a new mattress.  Mattresses can come with warranties that last 10-20 years but sometimes you may need a replacement sooner than that.  So how are you supposed to know if it’s time for a new mattress?

The first sign is how old your mattress is.  If your mattress is between 5-7 years old it could be time for a new mattress.  Since the years have passed when you first purchased your mattress, your body has gone through changes whether they are natural (gain/lose weight, muscle mass, etc) or not (surgery, accident, etc) your mattress may not be properly supporting the recent changes that have happened to you.

If you find that you’re waking up with aches and pains or even more tired than you were before going to bed, that is another sign you may need a new mattress.  A mattress that doesn’t properly support you can cause aches and pains from building pressure points throughout the night.  The increasing pressure points also lead to tossing and turning throughout the night to find some sort of comfortable position which makes you feel exhausted in the morning because you didn’t get any sleep.

Finding a comfortable spot to sleep anywhere but in your bedroom is another possible sign you need to replace your mattress.  Sleeping on your couch, or recliner, or maybe even your car, is not conducive to restful sleep.  These pieces of furniture are not meant to support you for the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep like your mattress is made for.

Examine the surface of your mattress.  If you see the indentation from where you sleep and even if you regularly rotate your mattress it won’t go away, that is another sign you may need a new mattress.  Remember your mattress should always conform to you, not you to it.

We spend one-third of our lives in bed, so always make sure that you are being properly supported each night by your mattress.  Sleep directly affects your quality of life so make sure you invest in your health by getting a mattress that is comfortable and supportive.

I made a video about the signs when you may need a new mattress.  Check it out below!  When do you know it’s time to replace your mattress?  Leave me a comment in the comment section below to get the conversation going.

 

Contributor: Emily Barrett

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The Pillow Test

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Snooze Director
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Do you know when to replace your pillows?  Do you even know if you should replace your pillows?  Many of us might still be holding on to a beloved pillow that is near and dear to our hearts.  The one pillow that been on many road trips and has traveled from hotel to hotel since you can’t fall asleep on anything else.  But did you know that even though you think you’re comfortable, that pillow might not be properly supporting you after many years of use?

There’s a simple test you can use on your pillows to determine if they are still functional.  You’ll want to fold your pillow in half and place a light weight on it, such as a book or a shoe.  If your pillow unfolds with the weight on top of it, then your pillow is still supportive.  If your pillow remains folded in half, then your pillow needs to be replaced because it isn’t supportive enough.

Typically pillows should be replaced every 1-2 years.  Having a pillow protector pad will extend the life of your pillow because it will ward off mold and dust from building up inside of it.  The average head weighs about 8 pounds, so if you’re sleeping on an old, unsupportive pillow, you’ll be waking up with aches and pains.

How old is the pillow you sleep on?  Do you remember when you last replaced your pillow?  Tell me all about your pillow stories in the comment section below!

To see the Pillow Test in action, check out my video:

Contributor: Emily Barrett

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Daylight Saving Time Begins March 11th

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Snooze Director
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It’s National Sleep Awareness Week and Daylight Saving Time is this Sunday March 11th, so I figured now more than ever I should recap some of the most important sleep tips so that you can learn how to get quality sleep.  Especially since we’ll be losing an hour of precious sleep this Sunday, getting enough shut eye will be an issue for all of us.

Let’s start with the basics.  A dark, cool and quiet bedroom is the perfect environment that will promote quality sleep.  The darker the room, the better; room darkening shades can help you achieve optimal darkness.  And if you’re on the go, an eye mask will also help simulate a dark room.  It is recommended to keep your room between 60 degrees and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.  If that sounds too cold to you, then bring extra blankets to bed so that you will feel warmer.  It’s beneficial to sleep in a cool room because it becomes easier to reach deep sleep when our core body temperature drops a little bit.  So although you may be wrapped up in your comforter, your head is still exposed and that’s enough to lower your temperature.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, don’t hit the snooze button!  Hitting the snooze button every 10 or so minutes for the half hour to hour before you officially wake up, isn’t helping you at all.  If you set your alarm for the time you actually get out of bed, you will have longer uninterrupted sleep, therefore you will wake up feeling more rested and ready to take on your day!

Ritualize your bedtime routine.  Completing a few relaxing tasks each night before bed will ease your body into a relaxed state and will be easier to fall asleep.  Whether you take a hot bath, wash your face or read a book, just make sure your bedtime routine doesn’t involve your electronics.  No TV, cell phones, tablets or computers at least two hours before bed.  The light your electronics emit ceases melatonin production, so you won’t feel tired and ready for bed if you’re checking your emails right before bed.

I also put two sleep tips to the test to see how effective they really are.  My first sleep tip experiment tested if exercising too close to bedtime would keep you up all night.  I found that when it comes to exercising affecting sleep, it really depends on the person.  I was fine with exercising late at night, but for other people it doesn’t work well for them.  My second sleep tip experiment was going without coffee for a week.  The results from this experiment proved to me that eliminating my regular coffee consumption helped me sleep even better!  I definitely believe that avoiding caffeine in the afternoon will help anyone sleep better.

What is your favorite sleep tip?  Do any sleep tips work for you?  How about, what sleep tips don’t work for you?  Tell me your sleep tip trials and tribulations in the comment section below so that we can get a conversation going!

 

Contributor: Emily Barrett

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Sleep Positions and Your Health

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Snooze Director
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I found a really interesting article on Sleep.com about “How Your Sleeping Position Can Affect Your Health,” and I thought I would share some of the key points with you.  We spend (optimally) eight hours each night in a primary position so there has to be some benefits and some negative effects for remaining in a single position throughout the night.  None of the negative effects are life threatening, they are more so a nuisance.  Here are the three most popular sleep positions and how they affect your health.

  • Fetal Position – While lying on your side with your feet curled up towards your chest and your chin pulled down towards your chest as well, the fetal position is one of the most common sleeping positions.  A benefit to sleeping in the fetal position is when you’re pregnant; sleeping on your left side will increase blood flow to the uterus.  With the increase in circulation, your baby will get plenty of oxygen and nutrients while you sleep.  The downside to the fetal position won’t be felt until the morning.  Spending all night curled up can cause aches and pains in your neck and back.
  • Back Sleepers – Whether you’re a soldier or a log, a back sleeper is more prone to snoring.  Also you may want to avoid sleeping on your back while pregnant because there is more weight stressing your lower back which also affects the veins that carry blood to your legs.  If you have the proper mattress, back sleeping is great for keeping your spine in neutral alignment so you shouldn’t wake up with aches and pains.
  • Stomach Sleepers – Sleeping on your stomach greatly reduces snoring, but if you have to use a CPAP machine every night, it won’t be very comfortable sleeping on your stomach.  Also, while in the early stages of pregnancy you may find it comfortable to sleep on your stomach, as your pregnancy progresses it will become more difficult and more uncomfortable to sleep on your stomach.

I had a great opportunity to make a video for Sleep.com and it was about sleep positions, personalities and how they are related.  There is great content on Sleep.com not just about sleep but also about your health.  There are two really cool features that I love on the site.  One is that you get to share your dreams with other Sleep.com visitors and the other is the Sleep Debt Calculator, which is a really handy tool.  Visit Sleep.com and leave me a comment on this blog on what you thought about the site!

 

Contributor: Emily Barrett

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The Most Sleep Deprived Occupations

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Snooze Director
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A recent study conducted for Sleepy’s has found the top 10 most and least sleep-deprived jobs.  This study comes in light of Daylight Saving Time which is less than one month away (Sunday, March 11th)!  As we all prepare to lose an hour of sleep in March, check out the list of the already sleep-deprived occupations:

  1. Home Health Aides
  2. Lawyers
  3. Police Officers
  4. Physicians, Paramedics
  5. Economists
  6. Social Workers
  7. Computer Programmers
  8. Financial Analysts
  9. Plant Operators
  10. Secretaries

I can see why home health aides top the list of most sleep-deprived job because many aides are working for more than one family and frequently work night shifts.  These sleep-deprived occupations can also be related to most stressful and most dangerous jobs rankings, which is no surprise why they are also sleep-deprived.  On the opposite end of this study, the most well-rested occupations were also determined.  Here’s that list:

  1. Forest, Logging Workers
  2. Hairstylists
  3. Sales Representatives
  4. Bartenders
  5. Construction Workers
  6. Athletes
  7. Landscapers
  8. Engineers
  9. Aircraft Pilots
  10. Teachers

The theme among some of the well-rested jobs is that many are jobs that require working outdoors.  Getting additional time in the sun not only boosts moods, but also helps keep the circadian rhythm in order.  No matter if you’re in the most sleep-deprived or well-rested occupations, sleep is important for not only health, but also job performance.  So on Sunday March 11th when we all lose an hour of sleep, keep these sleep tips in mind, to make sure you get your quality sleep.

  • Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
  • Sleep in a room that is dark, quiet & cool.
  • Make sure your mattress properly supports your body.
  • Avoid caffeine after 12pm.

For more great information about sleep and health visit Sleep.com.

 

Contributor: Emily Barrett

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