Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Psychologists believe that we dream as a way of sorting all of the information you acquire on a daily basis. During sleep, your mind categorizes all of the information and chooses what it should keep, integrate or disregard. This mental shuffling of information creates dreams which can either play out in a very real or seemingly nonsensical fashion. Although each person’s dreams are as unique as their own experiences, there are some common themes that appear in just about everyone’s.
Here’s a list of the top five dreams and what they mean.
Falling
Everyone has experienced the feeling of falling in their dreams. Whether they’re descending from a cliff or tripping into a massive sinkhole. The scary sensation of falling often wakes people up in the middle of the night, startled. An old wives’ tale suggests that if you ever hit the ground while experiencing a falling dream then you will die. Let us assure you that this is entirely false. Dream interpreters believe that falling dreams result from feeling out of control and are an indication of insecurities, instabilities and anxieties.
Being Chased
Ever have the experience that someone or something is chasing you through your dreams? Whether it’s a shadowy figure, monster or a tornado, dream interpreters believe that it means you are avoiding something important in your life. Are you trying to get out of a responsibility or obligation? Are you not tending to business that needs some attention? If you’re being chased in your dreams it may be a good time to take a look at some of the unaddressed issues in your life.
Teeth Falling Out
Another common dream theme is that of one’s teeth rotting or falling out of their mouth. These dreams can be very frightening because they can feel real and the dreamer may rush to the mirror in the morning to see if, indeed, their teeth have fallen out. Dream interpreters believe that these dreams represent talking too much, gossiping or that you’ve said something that maybe you shouldn’t.
Back at School
You know you’ve had this dream before. You’re walking in late to class while your teacher gives you a test you didn’t even know about. How about the dream where you are sitting in class in your underwear? It’s also common for people who graduated college to still have dreams where they must attend class in the morning. Dream interpreters believe that school dreams are really about your current job. Our jobs are a lot like going to school. You have to show up on time and perform well in order move your way up.
Infidelity
These dreams can be especially upsetting and those who take their dreams too seriously might start snooping around their partner’s belongings or become suspicious when they come home late from work. But, a simple dream about your spouse cheating is just what it is…a dream. These dreams usually occur when our spouses/ significant others are busy working on projects or hobbies that divert their attention from us.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
You’ve seen the famous commercials where people jump on one side of the bed while a glass of wine sits precariously on the other side, miraculously unaffected. You’ve heard how memory foam mattresses can instantly conform to a sleeper’s body, providing perfect comfort and support. But, are memory foam mattresses really as great as people are saying?
The truth is, they really are great and here’s why…
Memory foam was invented in 1966 at a research center contracted by NASA that was working to improve aircraft cushion safety. The temperature-sensitive memory foam they created was initially referred to as “slow spring back foam” and “temper foam.” Created by feeding gas into a polymer matrix, the foam has an open-cell solid structure that matches pressure against it, yet slowly springs back to its original shape. This new material was not only comfortable but durable as well.
Eventually, in the early ‘80s, NASA released this material to the public domain and a Swedish manufacturer took advantage and eventually created the, now famous, “Tempur-pedic Swedish Mattress.” At this point, memory foam mattresses came to be used extensively in hospitals because it was excellent for helping people with gangrene and pressure sores. Eventually, the cost of memory foam came down and it became used extensively in sleep systems, pillows and mattress toppers.
Some Big Benefits of Memory Foam
More Supportive
A memory foam mattress is made from dense foam substantial enough to support a lot of weight. Memory foam’s unique characteristics give it both the support of a firm mattress while retaining the comfort of a soft mattress.
Spring back
A memory foam mattress can spring back to its original shape even after you’ve slept on it all night. This prevents it from prematurely sagging and gives sleepers a fresh experience every night.
Temperature sensitivity
Some memory foam mattresses react to your body heat and feel as though they “melt away” when you lay on them. After you wake up in the morning the memory foam will revert to its normal shape. Conversely, some memory foam mattresses will feel firmer in the colder months.
Reduced motion transfer
Memory foam mattresses are great at eliminating motion transfer between sleep partners. When one partner tosses the other doesn’t turn.
Durability
Memory foam mattresses are guaranteed to last longer because the best memory foam mattresses are made from very heavy, dense materials and their spring-back nature allows them to retain their original shape over time. Memory foam mattresses also have less moving parts, springs, etc. so there are fewer things that can go wrong.
Are you amongst the legions of sleepers that set their alarm clock for an hour before they have to wake up and then hit the snooze button until the absolute last minute? What most people don’t know is that this behavior is actually detrimental to their sleep health. Plus, most people only snooze out of habit and would prefer to wake up when their alarm goes off. Having an extra hour of waking time every morning can make a world of difference in your life and give you time to exercise, have a cup of coffee, meditate or get to work earlier.
Hitting the snooze button every seven minutes for an entire hour each morning interrupts the most beneficial, replenishing sleep cycle, REM. The most restorative phase of sleep occurs more often in the early morning hours. By interrupting this part of the sleep cycle, snoozers inadvertently ruin their sleep by waking up and falling back to sleep repeatedly. A healthier way to approach this would be to set your alarm clock for the exact time you need to be up and then get out of bed at that moment. This gives you all the benefits of that hour of sleep and you will feel better rested than if you snoozed.
Ready to break your snooze addiction? Here’s some tips put together by the crack research team at SleepBook.
1. Place your alarm clock across the room
By placing your alarm at the other side of your room you’ll be forced to get up and turn it off, especially if you share your room with a sleep partner. No one wants to hear their own alarm clock, let alone someone else’s. Once you get up to turn off your alarm, you’re up and ready to start the day.
2. Set your coffee maker timer
The smell of hot, fresh coffee in the morning will give you an extra reason to spring out of bed. Plus, you’ll know that once you grab your cup of coffee, it will break the spell of sleepiness and help to kick-start your day.
3. Give yourself some static
Another way to ensure you get up on time is to make your alarm clock sound as terrible as possible. If you have a clock radio, set it to noisy static and turn it up all the way so you’ll be forced to turn it off ASAP.
4. Establish a good sleep schedule
Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day (even weekends!) will put you on a consistent schedule, making it easier for you to naturally wake up at the right time each day.
5. Enjoy more sleep
Why snooze through the morning when you can sleep though it? If you don’t snooze you get to sleep in every day – and that’s what you wanted in the first place, right?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The dedicated staff at SleepBook had a shocking realization recently after realizing we hadn’t done much research on sleep positions. So, our crack team hit the books to provide you with some information about which sleep positions are healthiest for YOU!
Best Position: On Your Back
Although this position is not good for people who have difficulty with snoring, sleeping on your back makes it easy for your head, neck and spine to maintain a neutral position. It is also good for people with acid reflux problems because it prevents food from coming back up the esophagus.
2nd Best Position: On Your Side
Sleeping on your side is beneficial for keeping your back and neck in alignment and if you suffer from acid reflux it’s almost as advantageous as sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your side is also great for keeping your spine elongated. The bad news is that sleeping on your side can cause wrinkles by smooshing half of your face into your pillow.
Less Ideal: Fetal Position
A recent survey found that 41% of people sleep in the fetal position. Fetal position is favored much more by women than men and is achieved by curving your back and raising your knees towards your chest. This position is not ideal for people who suffer from back or neck pain but it is ideal for women who are pregnant.
The Worst Position: On Your Stomach
Sorry stomach sleepers, you have adopted the unhealthiest sleep position. The one benefit that stomach sleepers can enjoy is less snoring. But, the bad news is that sleeping on your stomach puts more pressure on your joints and muscles which can lead to pain, numbness and tingling. Also, sleeping on your stomach forces your neck to rest in a sideways position that can lead to soreness over time.
It’s late April, things are heating up and America’s growing bed bug population is gearing up for their biggest season in decades. This time of the year is known as bed bug season because they spread in the spring and summer months by latching onto vacationers as they journey from destination to destination. Plus, a bed bug’s metabolism speeds up in the warmer months causing them to be more visible as they seek food and shelter.
The steady rise of bed bug populations in major cities across the U.S. has even alarmed the Environmental Protection Agency, who noted their “alarming resurgence” and referred to them as a “significant public health importance” in a recent press release. A survey on the resurgence of bed bugs conducted by the National Pest Management Association found that 95 percent of U.S.-based pest management companies surveyed indicated that their company has encountered a bed bug infestation in the past year. By sharp contrast, in the year 2000 only 25% of respondents had encountered a bed bug infestation.
The bed-bug resurgence is mostly believed to have come from an increase in international travel. Bed bugs found in a hotel room in one part of the world can easily latch on to their hosts and make it back to stateside. Although bed bugs can cause health problems in people with allergies, the real problem comes from bed bug eradication. Eliminating bed bugs can be costly and may take more than one visit from an exterminator. In some cases the affected furniture and articles of clothing may have to be replaced.
Ten Tips to Survive Bed Bug Season 2011
1. Reduce clutter – Less clutter means fewer places for bed bugs to call home.
2. Check for infestation signs. Bed bugs are known to leave behind:
- Skin castings
- Feces stains that look like dark spots
- Blood spots on mattresses, sheets and pillows
3. Travel tips:
- Don’t leave your clothes in hotel room drawers
- Check your mattress and sheets for the aforementioned infestation signs in Tip # 2
- When you come home unpack your clothes directly into a washing machine and wash your clothes on a hot setting
4. Vacuum frequently – Thorough vacuuming reduces bed bug populations. Pay close attention to rugs, floors, bed legs and all furniture. Be sure to change the vacuum bag after each use.
5. Buy a bed bug protection kit – Bed bug protectors kits can prevent bed bugs from entering your bed and pillows. An ounce of bed bug protection is worth more than a pound of bed bug cure.
Purchase a Bed Bug Protector Kit
