Categories
Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Sleep Tips

How to Read a Book Comfortably Before Bedtime

This year’s Book Lovers Day is coming up on August 9th. We have been asking for comments on our blog about what do you like to read before going to sleep. We also asked readers to share how they get comfortable while reading. Here are our own tips on how to read comfortably no matter what time of the day it is.

Good Posture – You don’t want the hours you spend reading to end up giving you neck or back problems. Find a comfortable sitting position with good back support. Hold your book at an angle where you can read it easily but you are not going to feel sore when you get up afterward. Right before bed is a favorite time to indulge in a good book for many readers. While reading in bed might be cozy, you probably don’t want to do it for a protracted length of time. The same goes for working in bed on your computer.

Good lightingPoor lighting while reading can cause eyestrain. Read your books in a properly lighted area. If you are reading in bed and don’t want to disturb your partner, try using a book light. When using a reading light, aim light over the shoulder opposite from the hand you are using to turn the pages, so your hand does not cast a shadow on the book. Set the light over your left shoulder if you are turning the pages with your right hand and vice-versa. You should also contrast lighting levels when reading. If you are using a bright reading lamp, turn on another light in the room to balance out lighting so there is not a stark contrast between a dark room and light from the lamp.

E-readers  – E-reader devices are winning over legions of readers due to their convenience of carrying an entire book collection in slender device. Some E-readers use “digital paper” that displays text on an unlighted screen. Newer E-readers feature a backlit screen that use LED lights similar to laptop computers. LED screens eliminate the need for a booklight by illuminating the text you are reading. Sleep experts have expressed concern that E-readers and other tablet devices could throw off a reader’s circadian rhythms and contribute to sleep problems. You can adjust your e-reader’s settings brightness settings where you can read comfortably and reduce excessive glow.

Do you have some tips for staying comfortable while reading? Please share them! We want to hear from you!

Our Book Lover’s Day contest contest continues through August 30thLeave a comment on our blog and you could win a grab-bag of books!

Categories
Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Organic Mattress & Bedding Sleep Tips

Organic Bedding Can Help You Sleep Cooler During The Summer

It can be tough to get a good night sleep during the hot nights of the summer months. Air conditioning helps, but the wrong type of bedding can trap in too much body heat, requiring you to lower the thermostat to compensate and increasing your energy bill. Organic bedding made from breathable materials can keep you cooler than synthetic bedding during summer nights and help you get a more restful sleep.

Our CozyPure® organic cotton blankets and wool comforters are made from natural fibers, which breathe and allow your body heat to dissipate through increased airflow, unlike synthetic blend fabrics that trap heat and make you sweat.

For the summer months, you might want to try using a set of 100% organic cotton sheets – make sure there’s no polyester blend – because pure 100% cotton increases the airflow between your body and the outside air. Our CozyPure® Organic Cotton sheets offer a fresh environment for a comfortable sleep and are made with 100% GOTS-Certified Organic Cotton. You will get a cooler sleep…and a cleaner one! We use no synthetic blends, formaldehyde or chemicals.

What else can you do to keep cool during summer nights? Experts suggest you should try adjusting your thermostat in the evening and experiment with different settings to see which one works best for you. If the evening temperature is suitable, you can open a window and use an electric fan to increase airflow in your bedroom. Wearing organic cotton garments while sleeping will work with your organic bedding to increase airflow as well.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

Categories
Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Sleep Tips

Benefits of A Good Nights Sleep

Have you ever had days when you just can’t remember things? When it’s hard to even add something as simple as 2+2? It’s time to consider that sleep could be your problem.

Sleep is very important in our everyday life. After a good nights sleep your thoughts are clearer, and your emotions are less fragile. Without adequate sleep, judgement, mood and ability to learn and retain information are weakened. Achieving restful sleep begins with keeping a consistent sleep schedule and creating a bedroom environment that promotes relaxation starting with your mattress. Your mattress and sheets can contribute to a better sleep. Using fibers such as polyester can overheat your body at night and make you feel uncomfortable. Natural fibers like cotton and pure wool wicks your body’s moisture causing you to stay  a little cooler so you can sleep better through the night. Don’t forget coverings such as blankets and even your pajamas which should also be made from natural fibers to help contribute to better sleep.

Sleeping helps repair your body. It produces extra protein molecules while you are sleeping that helps fight infection to keep you healthy. These molecules help your immune system repair your body cells when you are stressed or have been exposed to harsh elements such as pollutants and infectious bacteria.

Having a good nights sleep can help lower blood pressure and elevated levels of stress hormones. High blood pressure can be life threatening  and the physical effects of stress can produce “wear and tear” on your body  and degenerate cells. Sleep helps to slow these effects and encourages a state of relaxation.

Improved memory is also a result of better sleep. When you don’t have enough sleep it gets difficult to concentrate. This can lead to memory problems with faces, facts, lessons, or even conversations. Sleeping well eliminates these because as you sleep your brain is busy organizing and correlating memories.

If you are trying to loose a few pounds remember food and exercise  are not the only things that you have to control, sleep is also an important factor. Sleep helps regulate the hormones that affect and control your appetite. When your body is deprived of sleep, the normal balance is interrupted and your appetite increases.

Getting a good nights sleep is a great way to ensure that your day will be just a little better. Remember, your body needs sleep just as much as it needs food.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Jamar Diggs is a PR Communications and Social Media team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.